The Kenya Cancer Foundation and the Organizing Committee of the Kenya Cancer Foundation in America invites you to the Launch of the Kenya Cancer Foundation in America (KCFA) to be held at the Trinity Community Church in Kent, WA. The event will be held on October 25th from 2pm.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero clashed with Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor at the weekend over Luo Nyanza politics.

Mr Aduma accused Dr Kidero of waging a political war to succeed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the region’s political supremo.

The MP claimed Kidero’s frequent fundraisers in the region and his perceived closeness to the Jubilee administration were aimed at undermining the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader.

“Kidero is fighting to inherit Raila’s wife while he is still alive,” Aduma claimed, adding “this will never be entertained”.

Aduma is among local politicians opposed to Kidero’s fundraisers in the region and the legislator said the governor should remain loyal to ODM, the party that sponsored him to office.

But in a rejoinder, Kidero maintained that the people of Luo Nyanza must be in Government in 2017 and urged the legislators to shun divisive politics.

“Luos must go back to the Government and we must make early preparations to actualise this dream,” he said.

fund raisers

The two were speaking at a funeral in Kajulu.

The governor, who was recently proposed by Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka as a contestant for the presidency in 2017, urged politicians from the region to embrace politics of tolerance and development.

Florine Mati and David Mbugua ran tutoring companies that promised to help poor kids from Dallas-area schools.

On Tuesday, the pair pleaded guilty to defrauding the Dallas and Fort Worth school districts. They did so by billing the school districts about $3.1 million for tutoring that never occurred, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Mati, 42, and Mbugua, 43, both face up to five years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines. They could also have to pay restitution. It’s unclear if the Dallas and Fort Worth districts will recover any money because they paid the tutors with federal grant money.

“We are pleased that the U.S. attorney’s office continues to pursue these cases and, in this case, received a guilty plea,” DISD spokesman Jon Dahlander said Tuesday. “We have maintained for years that several of these companies were not serving the best interests of students. We hope that they pay full restitution and that the district is able to use the funds to educate students.”

Lawyers for Mati and Mbugua wouldn’t comment Tuesday. The pair are scheduled to be sentenced in February.

In federal court, the former business partners wore bright orange prison uniforms, their ankles in shackles. They’ve been in federal custody since their arrests in March.

Mati is a former DISD teacher from Bedford. Starting in 2011, she and Mbugua created four tutoring companies: Diverse Learning, Avenue Academy, Boost Academy and Wise Links (also known as Champions Mind).

Those businesses are among hundreds that popped up in Texas and the rest of the country, all vying for their share of federal education dollars. The federal No Child Left Behind law made it possible. Low-income students in struggling public schools had the right to free outside tutoring. Families picked tutors from the state-approved list, and the school districts paid the tutors with federal Title I funds.

Mati’s and Mbugua’s companies charged up to $100 an hour per student. On information sheets for parents, Diverse Learning said its services were “highly effective and research based.” Boost Academy said it would “meet the needs of every student.”

But the U.S. attorney’s office said that of the $4.1 million that the companies billed the Dallas and Fort Worth districts over two school years, about $3.1 million was for services never provided. Mati, Mbugua and their employees enrolled masses of students online from their offices in Hurst — and even from Kenya, where both had relatives, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

“They falsified documentation supporting their fraudulent claims by inducing students to sign attendance logs for tutoring sessions they did not receive,” the attorney’s office said in a statement Tuesday. “They even recruited a friend and her children to complete false and forged attendance sheets.”

Mati pleaded guilty to wiring $783,625 of company proceeds to family in Nairobi, Kenya, where some of the money was used to buy property. Mbugua admitted wiring $85,000 to himself and family in Kenya, where some of it was spent on a house. They agreed to work with the U.S. government to sell the properties and turn over any proceeds.

Owners of several tutoring companies have been charged with or have pleaded guilty to defrauding the U.S. Department of Education. Other business owners who profited from No Child Left Behind have seen their tutoring proceeds dry up. Most states — including Texas — have received waivers to parts of the law, including the tutoring requirement.

-Dallas Morning News

Beatrice Wambui has been through it all; from a marriage that never was, failing to thrive in America, that she even thought of committing suicide. However, she picked up her pieces

By Ann Wairimu @ann_wairimo

Like any bride, Beatrice Wambui hoped she would grow old with her husband. After all, her wedding day was one to remember. She had met her would-be husband at the University of Nairobi and could not wait to marry him. He was her best friend and they dated for five years.

However, things became different when they were planning for the wedding though she could not point exactly what was wrong. By this time, she had travelled to America to further her studies. So she travelled back to Kenya for her wedding hoping return to America with her husband afterwards as they had agreed.

“I call it ‘my nine hours of glory’ because my joy lasted up to the reception. The bridal party came to our apartment to give thanks and that is where I started losing my husband. We were supposed to be getting ready to go for our honeymoon, but instead he was busy with his friends,” she says.

As Christians, they had chosen to abstain from sex till marriage. “After we got to our honeymoon later on, nothing much went on. He said he was tired, never wanted much conversation or romance,” she says. Strange as it may sound, this marriage was never consummated. “He always gave excuses. He became indifferent,” Wambui adds.

“I was heartbroken, I had been waiting for the magical moment, but it never came,” she says. Wambui  was devastated; the ‘happily ever after’ story  had taken a sad twist. She needed a break. Her time to go back to America came. Her new husband could not travel to America because he did not get a visa. So, she flew back to the US, hoping he would join her, but that never came to be.

“Months turned into a year, then two and almost three years. We were talking and trying to have a way forward. I wanted to give our marriage a try, but he told me to move on because he already had done so,” she says. Wambui tried contacting him, but he never responded. The only answer she got was on Facebook. He had changed his status from ‘married’ to ‘in a relationship’. He also had pictures of the new girlfriend. “Later on, he went to my maternal home and dissolved the marriage in a customary way,” she says. However, she was in denial until when her husband’s  girlfriend delivered a son. She knew there was no turning back.

Meanwhile, life was not easy for Wambui in America. She had to work and study at the same time. When things became so hard she had to quit school. She failed in her nursing programme. Jobs were not easy to come by. She actually sold chapatis and mandazis to survive. Later on, she learnt to make clothes and jewellery. “I couldn’t keep a job, I just wanted to be alone, yet I had to meet my needs and bills,” she says.

She was devastated and even contemplated suicide.  Her turning point came one day when she looked her image in water. It was a beautiful aura from the reflecting evening sun. “Later on, I went back to my apartment and in front of the mirror I wiped my tears. I was not going to cry anymore, I was willing to fight for my life,” she says. To chronicle her journey, Wambui has written two books: Picking up the Pieces and Piecing the Pieces which she launched two weeks ago at Neema Church in Dallas, Texas.

Her books are an 80-day reflective journal.-mediamaxnetwork.co.ke/peopledaily

The number of registered aircraft in Kenya grew by 32 per cent in the past five years to 1,268 in a show of growing affluence by the elite who are driving up demand for air travel.

The 1,268 aircraft comprise those belonging to operators of scheduled flights, charter flights and privately owned planes that operate from small airports and airstrips.

Data from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) shows that the country had 958 registered planes five years ago.

More than 80 per cent of the recently registered vessels are light aircraft weighing up to 10 tonnes that are popular with individual owners and firms operating light charter flights.

“There has been an increase in demand for domestic air transport implying a promising shift from the use of road and rail to air transport,” KCAA said.

KCAA data also show that aircraft take-offs and landings on domestic routes grew substantially in the past five years.

By end of June 2014, a total of 176,503 landings and take-offs were registered on domestic routes representing a 36 per cent jump from the 130,237 aircraft movements registered in 2009.

Though national flag carrier Kenya Airways has helped push up the number of registered aircraft through its on-going fleet modernisation drive, that has so far amounted to less than 30 deliveries in five years.

Kenya’s business magnates, politicians and freshly minted millionaires are fast taking to the air as the preferred mode of transport – expanding the market for leasing and private ownership of planes.

Apart from urban-based business leaders, politicians and wealthy deal-makers, Kenyan skies are also dominated by large scale farmers and ranchers based in Nanyuki, Kitale, Laikipia and Narok.

The list of wealthy politicians who fly personal planes includes former MPs Ephraim Maina, Peter Kenneth, John Harun Mwau and Kiambu governor William Kabogo.

Retired politician Simeon Nyachae, former minister Nicholas Biwott, Baringo senator Gideon Moi and miraa mogul Musa Gurian also make the list.

READ: Kenya’s flying millionaires

Aero Club of East Africa – a lobby group of private aircraft owners – attributes the growth in number of registered planes to Nairobi’s rising status as the region’s business hub and a growing number of wealthy individuals with the means to own and maintain an aircraft.

“There is also marked increase in the number of flying schools as well as recent growth in demand for air safaris that is now depressed because of the tourism industry’s security challenges,” said Rob Linck, who chairs the club.

Mr Linck said that the US and South Africa have a vibrant second-hand airplane market that offer competitive prices for anyone aspiring to own a plane.

“One could buy a small used Cessna for as low as $30,000 (Sh2.7 million) while a used Cessna 182 costs about $100,000 (Sh8.9 million).

Mr Linck said the biggest headache in owing an aircraft lies in operational and maintenance costs, including high jet fuel prices, airport landing fees, parking fees, insurance and spare parts.

Wilson Airport handles about 90 per cent of domestic flights that are mainly made up of chartered and commercial flights to holiday destinations such as the Maasai Mara, Mombasa, Amboseli, Lamu, Kilimanjaro, Diani, Lokichogio and Nanyuki.

It is currently ranked among the busiest airports in terms of aircraft movement in East and Central Africa. Growth in the number of registered aircraft has also triggered a jump in the number of key personnel licensed to work in the aviation industry.

In 2013/14, the figure was 7,999 personnel – including pilots, cabin crew and engineers – representing a 175 per cent leap from 2005/06 when the number stood at 2,908.

Growth in the aviation industry has also benefited from demand for logistics and transport services in remote locations where mineral exploration is on-going.

The recent discovery of oil in Turkana has triggered a wave of exploration work in other remote locations such as Isiolo that are best accessed through light aircraft such as helicopters.

Rising demand for air travel is also being driven by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government agencies undertaking reconnaissance and surveillance work in remote areas.

KCAA said it expects growth to continue, citing the rise in passenger numbers that is in turn driving up frequency of flights and opening up of new routes.

Wealthy individuals have also acquired aircrafts to satisfy their ambitions for reliable and personalised travel. Kenya is estimated to have more than 400 privately registered planes.

Several companies running charter flight services have recently moved to boost their fleet capacity to match growing demand on both domestic and international routes.

Kenya Airways in April launched the low-cost operator Jambojet that is targeted at domestic fliers. The airline flies to Kisumu, Eldoret and Mombasa from Nairobi.

In August a new budget carrier, SouthEast Airlines, joined the scramble for the domestic air travel market with launch of scheduled flights on the busy Nairobi-Mombasa route.

-businessdailyafrica.com

Private charter firms such as Phoenix Aviation have recently expanded their fleet. Based at Wilson, Phoenix Aviation has a fleet of 13 aircraft and a helicopter. The company works closely with Amref Flying Doctors Air Ambulance services.

Tension is high in Moyale county after a former area  Member of Parliament Guyo Halake has been shot dead outside his home on Wednesday night

Halake who was a prominent leader of the Borana clan was shot four times in the chest by unknown assailants. The former MP died on the spot.

Youth mourning the death of Halake had blocked the road stopping police from collecting the body.  The youth reportedly stoned a police land cruiser at 8pm damaging the windscreen and forcing officers to return to the station.

Clan elders are reported to have later taken the body from the scene.

Halake was a key member of the Kaparo Peace Commission and Borana Council of Elders. Moyale has been hit by sporadic clashes between the warring  of Borana and Gabra communities.

– the-star.co.ke

That Nairobi’s socio-economic services are stretched to the limit is not in doubt. In fact, over the years, urban planners have grappled with the problem of decongesting the city whose population is now close to four million.

Various interventions have been outlined but little seems to have changed in urban development. But did you know that the Government has an ambitious plan to disperse much of Nairobi’s population through the creation of six new cities?

In March 2013, then Lands minister James Orengo signed a document entitled, Spacial Planning Concept for Nairobi Metropolitan Region, in which six thematic cities are included as part of an ambitious Government plan to reorganise economic activities around the city.

This followed a presidential executive order in May 2008 that also saw the establishment of Nairobi Metropolitan Development Ministry.

The new region covers Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado and Murang’a counties. Here are the new cities.

Aerotroplis

The central core of the aerotropolis will be located towards Thika and will comprise a new international airport, a CBD and other commercial and administrative units.

The town will sit on 2,000 hectares, excluding the area for the proposed airport. It is envisaged that all air transport related activities, currently scattered all over the current city and beyond, will be centralised in the aerotropolis.

The structure of the new city will take advantage of two major roads in the vicinity: Garissa Road and the Great Eastern by-pass.

Like the other new towns, the aerotropolis will accommodate a population of 100,000 with population density of 50 people per hectare.

Fifty-five per cent of the working population will be engaged in the service sector at the proposed airport and another 15 per cent in the airport related industrial area.

Knowledge/health city

This will be located in Kiambu County on Limuru Road near Ruaka Town in the midst of coffee and tea plantations.

It will be made up of agricultural research centres, a technological university, management institutes, agro-based health centres and hospitals, among other institutions.

Cyber city

A new techno city was also proposed to spur economic growth with informationtechnology as the key driver.

The Cyber City will be located in Machakos County at the junction of the Greater Eastern by-pass and Kangundo Road, approximately 30 kilometres from Nairobi.

It will host service-oriented industries in the field of information technology andinformation technology enabled services (IT/ITeS)

Interestingly, Konza City, the much touted Kenyan ‘Silicon Valley’, is located within the same neighbourhood. It remains to be seen how the Government will amalgamate the development of the two interrelated cities.

Sports city

With Kenya’s global reputation as a sporting nation, a new town meant to spur further growth in the sector was also proposed.

To be located on relatively flat land in Machakos County, the Sports City will incorporate world-class sporting venues and sports academies, including a 60,000-seater multi-purpose outdoor stadium, a 25,000-seater cricket ground, a 10,000-seater indoor arena and a 5,000-seater field hockey stadium.

There will be related amenities such as hotels, entertainment outlets, schools, medical facilities and retail opportunities where 70 per cent of the working population is expected to serve.

Transport city

A major proposal in the concept is the establishment of a new transport and logistics hub to facilitate freight transport within the region.

The new town will service the proposed transport and logistics hub, comprising a rail and truck terminal as well as an inland container depot.

Amboseli new town

An interesting inclusion in the metropolitan concept is a new tourist town adjacent to Amboseli National Park, deep in Kajiado County.

The proposed town will include hotels, resorts, entertainment outlets, gaming arcades, outdoor activities with lush green landscaped gardens.

Among those who were involved in the preparation of the new concept were Dan Kiara, deputy director, Metropolitan Planning and Environment, a directorate under the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development.

He says the plan will make it easier to manage economic activities in contrast to Nairobi where all activities are lumped together without any specialisation, making service delivery a daunting task.

“The idea is to disperse the current population from the current city of Nairobi. With fewer people in the city, it will be easier to provide services for those who remain in the capital while establishing new economic zones with specific themes,” says Kiara.

The Nairobi Metropolitan Region Spacial Plan borrowed heavily from the country’s economic blueprint, Vision 2030 that recommended the establishment of six metropolitan regions namely: Nairobi, Nakuru-Eldoret, Kisumu-Kakamega, Mombasa, Garissa and Meru-Kitui.

According to Kiara, the new towns will be infrastructure-led, in contrast to current urban developments that precede infrastructure.

“We have all seen how new infrastructure such as roads has been able to open up virgin areas. This is the idea behind the new town planning for the metropolitan region,” says Kiara.

But going by previous grandiose plans, how practical is it to build new ultra modern cities from scratch? Kiara says that will not be a problem, citing other developments that seemed inconceivable.

Concepts seemed inconceivable

“All great developments start as concepts. For example, we are currently in the finalphase of constructing the inner city by-passes that were conceptualised way back in 1973. So I believe there will be a generation that will actualise this idea,” he says.

Speaking during a gathering of professionals in Nairobi recently, Peter Kibinda, an urban planner, said this kind of work “involves dreaming”, adding that such a big concept requires patience.

He cited the cases of Kilimani and Kileleshwa where rezoning resulted in a compact development that attracted new business opportunities in the construction industry.

Kibinda was the director of metropolitan planning and environment in the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development when the idea of new cities was mooted.

“Sadly, Nairobi in its current form is not sustainable. It is too rigid. Lack of reliabletransport is killing the city while regeneration of the same has not even started. Creating the new towns is the only way to check the runaway urban sprawl,” he said.

Kibinda said professionals ought to look at the new towns in a positive manner saying they will provide massive opportunities for them in terms of planning and actual development.

- standardmedia.co.ke

Church offerings in Nyanza have lowered, area Council of Church Leaders chairman Bishop Washington Ogonyo Ngede noted.

“We only receive between Sh5,000 and Sh6,000 on Sunday which is too minimal to do tangible work,” Ogonyo said.

He said the decline is because MPs and MCAs in the region do not attend church services.

“If our MPs and MCAs do not attend church services, where will we get money?” Ogonyo asked wananchi at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground during Mashujaa Day celebrations.

Ogonyo urged the area leaders to take after their Rift Valley counterparts “who flock to their churches during Sunday services.”

The bishop singled out Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir who once attended a service at his church, Power of Jesus around the World, “but only during the campaign period.”

“I love him so much (Shabbir) but since he came seeking votes at my church, I have not seen him again,” Ogonyo said laughing.

He said “working adequately for the Lord” requires money.

Ogonyo urged local leaders to focus on development so that there is enough money in circulation.

“We know the President will come to visit the region. We urge him to ensure initiation of development projects to empower our people,” he said.

He said the people would like to see Miwani and Muhoroni sugar factories and Kicomi ginnery revived for youths to get employed. He asked the youth to start businesses and take loans for development.

Some local leaders at the ceremony however maintained that they attend services at different churches.

“We always attend church services in our respective areas of jurisdiction,” Nyalenda A ward representative Jackton Onunga said.

Businessman Eric Okeyo said Kisumu’s business community also goes to church.

“I am a staunch member of the Anglican church who attends Sunday services. As a leader, at times I reach out to other churches. I urge all leaders to embrace the culture of going to church to attract blessings from the Almighty God,” Okeyo said.

Governor Jack Ranguma, Nominated Senator Joy Gwendo, Kisumu security chiefs led by County Commissioner Erastus Ekidor and a few MCAs also attended the ceremony.

– the-star.co.ke

You are all invited for an afternoon of fun at Lake Lewisville on Saturday October 25. Reservations are not required. The event is from 12pm to 6pm. Bring your family and friends and enjoy some nyama choma (BBQ). Please see directions below

The charity is in need of your help, after a volunteer, Matt Durham, was charged with molesting Kenyan orphans.

Oklahoma initials charged Durham after he was discovered that he raped boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 9-years-old during a mission trip to a Kenyan orphanage. He is facing four charges involving illicit sex acts.

The Upendo charity which helps kids in Kenya has however been hit by the negative attention brought about by Durham actions. Most of their budget has been going to counselling those kids in Kenya and they need more help. If you would like to assist, you can do so at http://upendokids.com

Moses Wetangula was this evening evicted from a Mombasa bound Kenya Airways flight after he failed to show the crew his national identification card. The flight was delayed for over an hour as Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi and Speaker of the Kenya Senate Ekwee Ethuro tried to talk to the crew but to no avail.

According to Phillip Etale, a CORD communication official,  Wetangula showed his Kenya Airways Frequent Flier Platinum card but the crew would not budge. Speaker Muturi and Ethuro vowed not to continue with the journey unless Wetangula is cleared. Senator Wetangula said that his national ID was ina bag enroute to Mombasa with his driver.It is not yet clear if there has been a resolution as yet.

In a similar incident last week,Igembe MP Dr. Kilemi Mwiria was also ejected from a KQ flight to Mombasa after he failed to produce a Kenyan ID.

A Kenyan-made vehicle that is designated as Africa’s cheapest car has hit the showrooms, bringing to reality the dream of an entrepreneur who designed it four years ago.

The car, which trades under the brand name Mobius, entered the showrooms this month at a price of Sh950,000 – making it the lowest priced new vehicle in the country.

Mobius Motors is the car maker while Thika-based Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) is the assembler of the car that is designed for Africa’s rough terrain and off-road driving.

The vehicle comes with extras such as air conditioning and power steering.

Mobius, whose design and engineering works is supported by US billionaire Ronald Lauder, has opened a showroom at Sameer Business Park on Nairobi’s Mombasa Road.

Mr Lauder’s financial backing has helped Mobius scale up its production besides speeding up its journey to the market.

KVM has assembled 50 units since Mr Lauder injected millions of shillings into the operation through Pan African Investment Company (PIC) and has since sold 10 units.

Mobius Motors is currently looking for distributors in Nyeri, Maua, Meru and Murang’a, and is mainly targeting rural transport.

The car can seat eight passengers, including the driver, and it has a large cargo space. Mobius’ promoters are also banking on the vehicle’s efficient fuel consumption and easy maintenance to establish it as the car for rural folks.

It has a loading capacity of 625 kilogrammes and a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour achieved using a five-speed manual transmission.

At Sh950,000, the car is significantly cheaper than the lowest priced showroom models in the market that cost more than Sh2 million.

Mr Lauder, whose worth is estimated at $3.8 billion (Sh330 billion) by Forbes magazine, has offered Mobius an undisclosed amount of convertible debt to help it assemble the first 50 units this year and establish a distribution network.

A convertible debt is a loan that can be turned into equity or stock ownership at a future date. Savvy startup investors prefer it because it helps them secure investment funds without setting a valuation on a company — a difficult process for a pre-revenue company.

Mr Lauder made his money from cosmetics giant Estée Lauder and served as US ambassador to Austria from 1986 to 1987. Dana Reed, the chief executive officer of PIC, sits in the board of Mobius Motors.

Mr Joel Jackson, the design brains behind Mobius, says he expects a vehicle designed specifically for the African market to appeal to business owners who are looking for affordable transportation.

The 29-year-old computer engineer told the Business Daily that plans are underway to increase production after the initial 50 units go on sale.

The Mobius is designed to eliminate all non-essential features of a vehicle to reduce weight and cut cost.

KVM is locally sourcing raw materials used to make the car in the hope of establishing a value chain that benefits local suppliers.

Last year, Mobius Motors told Reuters that over 35 per cent of the total vehicle cost is sourced locally and its target was to get above 40 per cent.

Mobius is however expected to face an uphill climb in a market that is underpinned by consumer preference for imported second-hand cars.
There are currently around 800,000 cars on Kenyan roads, with some 90,000 units sold every year.

Official statistics show that 76,122 or 84 per cent of car registrations last year were used.

At Sh950,000, Mobius retail price is at par with what many Kenyans pay for used cars, making quality and features such as fuel consumption, availability of spare parts and after-sales service critical for consumer buy-in.

The sale of Mobius comes as rising incomes and increased confidence in the economy continues to shore up the rate at which Kenyans are buying cars.

Individuals and businesses bought 43,360 vehicles in the half year ended June, representing a 39.3 per cent jump from 35,246 units sold in the same period last year.

Both used and new car dealers registered double-digit sales growth, indicating a broad-based growth in demand.

Majority of vehicle purchases are backed by bank loans and employers’ funds that are mostly hinged on confidence in the borrowers’ ability to pay.

The purchases, whether in cash or credit, also reflect better prospects on the part of those buying the units for personal use or for commercial activities.

New vehicle dealers, however, recorded the fastest sales growth in the review period, indicating robust demand from their customer base composed of the government, blue-chip firms, and wealthy individuals.

Sales in this segment of the vehicles market rose 39.3 per cent to 8,915 units, driven by government purchases and orders from businesses in the transport, trade, and construction industries.

Mobius Motors says it has received a number of pre-orders for the vehicle and will develop an upgraded car dubbed Mobius III, which is set for production launch in 2016.

Assembly of Mobius in Kenya is set to boost the local car assembly business which rides on tax exemptions that the government has offered to attract investors and create jobs.

Imports of vehicle parts are exempted from the 25 per cent tax levied on fully-built units, helping dealers to churn out cars at reduced prices.

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that 3,611 vehicles were assembled in Kenya in the period to June, accounting for 40 per cent of the new 8,915 units sold in the period.

This is less than the 52 per cent of new cars that were assembled locally in the same period last year.

-businessdailyafrica.com

Billed as “the most awaited road cycling event of the year”, the 2014 Tour of Matabungkay attracted a record number of participants at just over 500 riders across the categories for the challenging four stage 3-day race. The majority of the competitors are Filipino, but the race has also been attracting more and more international participants from around the world. This year, the Kenyan Riders team, with a strong five-man squad made the TOM as part of their Asian racing campaign that also includes the Tour of Khatulistiwa in Indonesia. The remarkable 30 year old Kenyan rider, John Njoroge Muya, who had finished a noteworthy third place overall at the 2012 Tour of Rwanda and had competed in the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, won the opening 42km hilly Individual Time Trial with a winning time of 58’25”. Stage Two was held on the same day, October 18th, at 1:30pm. The Kenyan Riders team largely controlled the 88km road race like a well-oiled professional team, and it was a bunch sprint for the line, with Filipino rider Archie Cardana (Von Dutch) snatching the win.

John Njoroge Muya retained his yellow jersey status and was presented with the yellow jersey to wear for Stage Three, the 143km mountainous Queen stage, which contains numerous steep climbs. According to his coach, Rob Higley, it was John’s first ever yellow jersey and this made him extremely proud. His teammate, Ayub Kathurima, was in third standing on GC, having also posted an ITT result just under one hour. On day two, October 19th, the riders rolled out of the Matabungkay Beach Resort and Hotel at 8:30 AM, to first complete a 20km neutral section through a few towns before the official race started just before the first steep climb. It wasn’t long before the race was shattered into groups, with a front bunch that continuously shrank in size. The overcast conditions kept the heat at bay as the riders zigzagged up and over numerous mountains that almost resembled a roller coaster ride. The pace set by the enthusiastic Filipino climbers was so fast that not many of the international riders were able to keep pace, however all five of the Kenyan Riders were comfortable, along with Italian rider, Paolo Caputo (Team DirectAsia.com) and Bastian Dohling (Specialized Mavericks).

One hour into the race, John (Njoroge Muya) had misjudged a sharp corner at speed and chose to take a small tumble into the grass on the road-side rather than endanger his breakaway companions. He was unharmed, remounted, and chased back to reconnect with the breakaway group. All of his team-mates had dropped back to wait for him. They spent 10 minutes of hard pacemaking to re-establish contact. John did mention to his team mates that he had just learned that his brakes were not as good as he wished, and the team moved more carefully through the remaining corners. According to his teammates, John had no more bike handling problems. The breakway group was back together just before the KOM climb where Ronald Hualda (LightScience/American Vinyl) snatched the points needed to win the polka-dot jersey.

By this point, there were 14 riders left at the head of the race. The traffic was light on the narrow mountain highway, but there was ever the presence of motorbike marshals and police vehicles sweeping ahead of the bunch to clear the road, and armed soldiers could be seen on the roadside from time to time. Racing in the Philippines is never on 100% closed roads and traffic control is notoriously difficult. An ambulance was following just behind the breakaway group. Shortly past 10:00 AM, almost halfway through the course, the front group was flying down a steep descent with speeds close to 80km/h and rounded a descending corner to find things not quite as usual. A black Hyundai Accent vehicle had ignored the marshal’s instructions and was the only vehicle to be moving slowly uphill while all the other vehicles had complied to pull off the road.

The extremely tight corner thus had become even narrower and John, who just happened to be on the left side of the breakaway group at the time (in the Philippines you drive and ride on the right side of the road), found himself with nowhere to go. It seems most likely, according to the coach, that John did not wish to cut back to the right with sudden braking to take the inside line for fear of causing a big pile up at the speeds the group was traveling. Based on the angle of the collision it is speculated that John was making a last ditch attempt to get around the car to the left, where he had found safety on the first fall, but this time there was no grass and the head on collision with the car was unavoidable. If he had succeeded in passing the car on the left, the line of stopped vehicles would have been waiting for him there. It was an impossible situation, where the rider truly had nowhere to go.

The unavoidable collision into the car resulted in severe head and body trauma, and while he had immediate care from the ambulance that was on the scene within seconds, the paramedics were unable to keep him alive on the way to the hospital. John’s bike sailed through the air, and the only thing his team-mates were aware of was that the bicycle had broken when it smashed into the ground.

The driver of the vehicle, 35-year-old Carl Hector Agoncillo Rustia, was arrested, and a case was formally filed against him on Monday, October 20th.

Unaware of the severity of the accident, the lead group was able to focus on the task at hand, as they left the Nasubgu-Ternate Highway behind to race through numerous small towns. Organizers quickly posted marshals further up the hill to warn the remaining cyclists to slow down and be careful. By the end, 12 men still remained in the lead group, and it was Rener Clauna of Aboitiz Power who won the sprint for the line. Kenyan Riders’ Ayub Kathurima came in fourth, but moved into the Yellow Jersey and overall winner of the Tour of Mataungkay 2014.

Organisers had changed the finish line to be closer to the race hotel to facilitate a smoother transitioning time, and this is where Kenyan Riders coach Rob Higley informed the team of what had happened to John. The general feeling shared by all those at the TOM was of shock and dismay. It’s rare to loose a rider during an event, almost unheard of even.

In an effort to show support to the Kenyans, and also to celebrate and honour the life of John Njoroge Muya, the race was officially brought to a close with stage three, and the final day was a neutral group ride to the finish. The sun was shining on October 19th as the hundreds of participants rolled out from the event hotel, sorted into a fast, medium, and slow moving groups. The yellow jersey’s from the different categories were given the rare opportunity to ride together and the DirectAsia.com team members wore black armbands. It was also an emotional time for them, having lost one of their own team members, Colin Robertson, just 4 months prior in early June. Colin had been out training in Hong Kong when he was struck by a truck that ended his life. Colin, coincidently, had been the Tour of Matabungkay’s 2012 champion.

By the end of the 130km course, which showcased the stunning Batangas region, many new friendships had been forged. The Kenyan Riders team rolled across the finish line together, arms raised, in a show of solidarity.

It is hoped that this tragic incident will bring more awareness to traffic safety. It is recognized by all that the road control at the Tour of Matabungkay could be improved with additional marshals, however the local police and army were also on hand to help control; it was the best they could manage in a country that does not always pay heed to the authorities. John’s split second decision ultimately cost his own life but it was admirable that he did not endanger the safety of his breakaway companions by swerving into them.

John leaves behind his wife and baby boy who will need to re-build their lives. There is a fund being set up to help with this as well as the cost of transporting the body back to Kenya, and to help secure the continuing future of the Kenyan Riders team, for which John has sacrificed his all. If you are in a position to donate, it would tremendously help their cause. The details will be posted shortly on the Kenyan Riders Facebook page, as well as here on CyclingTips.

-cyclingtips.com.au

A Doctors Without Borders physician who recently returned to New York from West Africa has tested positive for the Ebola virus, a law enforcement official briefed on the matter told CNN.

The doctor, identified as Craig Spencer, 33, came back from West Africa about 10 days ago, and developed a fever, nausea, pain and fatigue Wednesday night.

The 33-year-old physician, employed at New York’s Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, has been in isolation at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan since Thursday morning, the official said.

At a news conference Thursday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio sought to allay public concerns about the spread of the deadly virus, saying that “careful protocols were followed every step of the way” in the city’s handling of the case. The hospitalized doctor has “worked closely” with health officials, the mayor said.

The doctor exhibited symptoms of the Ebola virus for “a very brief period of time” and had direct contact with “very few people” in New York, de Blasio told reporters.

On his Facebook page, Spencer posted a photo of himself in protective gear. The page indicates he went to Guinea around September 18 and later to Brussels in mid October.

“Off to Guinea with Doctors Without Borders (MSF)” he wrote. “Please support organizations that are sending support or personnel to West Africa, and help combat one of the worst public health and humanitarian disasters in recent history.”

In a statement, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital said the doctor was “a dedicated humanitarian” who went to “an area of medical crisis to help a desperately underserved population.”

An image of Craig Spencer taken from his LinkedIn profile.

“He is a committed and responsible physician who always puts his patients first,” the hospital statement said. “He has not been to work at our hospital and has not seen any patients at our hospital since his return from overseas.”

The CDC had people packing up to go to New York on Thursday, and a specimen from the physician was to be sent to Atlanta for testing, an official familiar with the situation told CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen.

Investigators took the case seriously from the outset because it appeared the doctor didn’t quarantine himself following his return, the law enforcement official said. The doctor traveled to Brooklyn and then back to Manhattan on Wednesday night, the official said.

n a statement Thursday, Doctors Without Borders confirmed that the physician recently returned from West Africa and was “engaged in regular health monitoring.” The doctor contacted Doctors Without Borders Thursday to report a fever, the statement said.

The law enforcement official said the doctor was out in public. Authorities also quarantined his girlfriend, with whom he was spending time since his return from Africa.

The doctor began feeling sluggish a couple of days ago, but it wasn’t until Thursday, when he developed 103-degree fever, that he contacted Doctors Without Borders, authorities said.

The case came to light after the New York Fire Department received a call shortly before noon Thursday about a sick person in Manhattan. The patient was taken to Bellevue.

Mark Levine, a city councilman who represents the doctor’s Manhattan neighborhood, said earlier Thursday that city health department workers were canvassing the area, distributing information on the disease door-to-door, according to CNN affiliate WABC.

“The goal right now is to make sure people don’t panic,” he said.

The health department said a special ambulance unit transported a patient suffering from a fever and gastrointestinal symptoms.

The doctor returned to the U.S. within the past 21 days from one of the three West African countries currently facing the outbreak of virus, the health department statement said.

Bellevue Hospital is designated for the “isolation, identification and treatment of potential Ebola patients” in the city, the statement said.

“As a further precaution, beginning today (Thursday), the Health Department’s team of disease detectives immediately began to actively trace all of the patient’s contacts to identify anyone who may be at potential risk,” the health department statement said.

“The chances of the average New Yorker contracting Ebola are extremely slim,” the statement said, adding that the disease is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.

Bellevue Hospital is one of the eight hospitals statewide that Gov. Andrew Cuomo designated earlier this month as part of an Ebola preparedness plan, the state heath department said.

Ebola has killed nearly 5,000 people, mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. But fears about its spread has mounted since the first person diagnosed with the disease in the United States was hospitalized in Texas last month.

Thomas Eric Duncan, who had flown from Liberia to Dallas, died on October 8. Two nurses who treated him became infected with the virus and are undergoing treatment, with the cases raising questions about the ability of local and federal officials to deal with an outbreak in the United States.

-CNN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Wednesday cautioned against making assumptions about President Barack Obama’s changes to immigration rules based on a new federal contract proposal from the Homeland Security Department to buy enough supplies to make as many as 34 million immigrant work permits and residency cards over the next five years.

The Associated Press reported earlier in the day the contract proposal suggested that the Obama administration appeared to be preparing for an increase in the number work permit applications form of immigrants living illegally in the country. The U.S. government produces about 3 million work permits and residency identification, known as green cards, annually. The new contract for at least 5 million cards a year would provide the administration with the flexibility to issue far more work permits or green cards even if it chose not to exercise that option.

“I think those who are trying to read into those specific orders about what the president may decide are a little too cleverly trying to divine what the president’s ultimate conclusion might be,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “What I would caution you against is making assumptions about what will be in those announcements based on the procurement practices of the Department of Homeland Security.”

Earnest did not say whether Obama plans to issue more work permits.

Obama announced earlier this year that if Congress didn’t pass immigration legislation, he would act on his own. After twice postponing a final decision, he said as recently as last month that he would hold off on executive actions until after November’s midterm elections.

The administration has repeatedly declined to say what options Obama was considering, but it is widely believed that he will expand protections from deportation already extended to more than 500,000 young immigrants who came to the United States as children. Under that program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, many young immigrants who are in school or who have graduated and don’t have a criminal record can win protection from deportation for up to two years. They are also eligible for work permits.

The president does not have the legal authority unilaterally to offer immigrants living in the country illegally green cards or any other permanent immigration status. But administration officials have said the president can authorize protection from deportation for immigrants on a case-by-case basis, such as with the DACA program, and issue them work permits.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Leon Rodriguez told an audience at a Georgetown University Law Center conference Tuesday that his agency was ready for whatever immigration changes Obama may announce. He declined to provide details.

USCIS confirmed to the AP on Tuesday that it published a draft contract proposal to buy the card stock needed to make work permits and permanent resident cards, more commonly known as green cards. The proposal calls for providing material for at least 5 million cards a year, with as many as 9 million “during the initial period … to support possible future immigration reform initiative requirements.” The contract calls for as many 34 million cards over five years.

USCIS spokesman Christopher Bentley described the proposal posted earlier this month a routine contract solicitation.

“Solicitations of this nature are frequent practice,” Bentley said. He said the number of immigration applications can rise “for any number of any reasons.”

The contract proposal was first reported by the online news site Breitbart.com.

-Associated Press

Here is the card order draft for a potential 34 million cards that is driving the Republicans crazy

Witnesses are coming forward saying a nursing home worker who threatened to behead his female coworker was only joking.

Now, the victim herself is behind bars for a not so innocent past.

Bellevue Nursing Home in Northwest Oklahoma City is where the alleged victim, Monique Garrett, the alleged terrorist Jacob Muriithi and their coworker who wants to remain anonymous were employed.

The anonymous co-worker says he overheard a conversation that quickly escalated to what police are calling a terrorist threat.

“I heard what I thought was a joke, what sounded to me like a joke,” the anonymous co-worker said.

He sticks to Jacob’s innocence.

“That sounds ridiculous, there’s no way Jacob, there’s no way I could see Jacob was as terrorist,” the anonymous co-worker said.

But the woman accusing Muriithi insists he even told her he represented ISIS.

“Jacob has a dry sense of humor, Jacob is a Christian not a Muslim,” the co-worker said.

Muriithi also denies ever claiming he was a part of ISIS.

Today we learned the alleged victim in the case, Monique Garrett, is locked up on a felony warrant from 2012.

Undercover video shows Garrett getting arrested early Thursday morning at Bellevue.

Court documents show on September 4th of 2012, “Monique Garrett willfully and knowingly took Oxycodone…from a patient… from Manor Care Center”

Since the investigation, that nursing home was sold and Garrett did not work under its new owners.

It’s unclear why it took police so long to arrest Garrett, but a local advocate against nursing home abuse has a theory.

“If somebody is caught abusing or neglecting a resident or patient, it could take as much as a month before that flag shows up in the system so that person could technically be fired from that facility and go work at another facility without raising anybody’s attention,” Wes Bledsoe with A Perfect Cause.

Muriithi’s co-worker says all he wants is his be friend to be let go.

“He just made a silly mistake and I don’t think he should have to pay for it for the rest of his life,” the anonymous co-worker said.

We spoke with the administrator for Bellevue Nursing Home who only told us Garrett did pass their background check.

We did one of our own checks at our NewsChannel 4 newsroom, in about 10 seconds, we were able to pull up a lengthy felony history including the arrest warrant for Garrett.

We also checked with the Oklahoma State Health Department and Garrett is still listed as a certified medication aide.

-kfor.com

Ever since Jane Wangui and her husband bought their home in Lower Kabete, Nairobi, it has been a cat-and-mouse game with the seller.

For seven years, they have pursed the developer to hand over the land titles, to no avail. They have hired lawyers to follow up on the case, but “they vanish along the way”.

“We don’t know why these lawyers disappear,” she says.

Together with 11 buyers, they each bought a house for Sh15.5 million. But on its completion, the seller raised the price to Sh17.5 million.

Mrs Wangui told her lawyer to pursue the case since the signed sale agreement was clear on the cost. But the seller insisted he had added antiques in the house, pushing up the cost by Sh2 million.

“My husband just said we pay him,” she says.

The seller also told them to pay for the house in full instead of the 10 per cent deposit provided by law, citing high interest rates.

After moving into their dream home, they discovered that the swimming pool, gym and club house which they had paid for had not been built. “We actually had to do it with our own money,” she says.

And in the last communication with the seller, he e-mailed copies of the title deeds. What can someone do with e-mailed title deeds? Mrs Wangui wonders, saying she had hired another lawyer to follow up on the case.

She represents hundreds of home buyers who fall prey to shrewd developers and sellers.

From chipped floor tiles, water leaks in bathtubs which seep though walls, peeping, bare electricity wires, substandard toilet seats and door knobs that are left in your hand as you open the door, home buyers are spending millions of shillings in fixing defects after buying pre-built houses.

Rain starts beating

Recently, a group of buyers who bought a holiday home at Red Hill, Nairobi, were contemplating to move to court after the developer failed to provide a promised racing track.

The developer put up additional houses on the space set aside for the racing track to meet high demand.

“Developers in Kenya always have the upper hand. They can do as they please. They make sale agreements which favour them and leave the buyer with no rights,” says Mrs Wangui.

When did the rain start beating us? Fraud in the property market sector started a few years ago when people with prime land approached developers to construct houses.

Over time, developers have become greedy. They take 10 per cent deposit from buyers only to sell the property to those paying cash.

“I bought an apartment on Riara Road in 2004, paid the 10 per cent only for the house to be sold to another person. I was lucky to get back my money. My mum went to school with the developer so she talked to her and I got back my money. But the rest of the buyers fought it out in court,” says Mrs Wangui.

Off-plan buyers are the hardest hit. Developers are duping buyers into paying millions of shillings for beautifully designed marketing brochures or well-arranged show houses and not their dream homes.

Other buyers have to spend a lot of money to fix defects in new houses even before the end of the six-month period when developers are expected to fix any defects.

While those brave enough opt to fight breach of contracts in court, most buyers resolve to shoulder the burden of repairing cracks in walls or fixing loose electricity wires.

Stephen Oundo, the National Construction Authority (NCA) chairman admits that such cases do occur.

“But there are cases where the contractor will adjust the colour of the paint or design of the house because it is not practical. But in the end, he produces something that is of better quality than was earlier proposed,” said Mr Oundo.

While this could be the case, David Nahinga, a director and quantity surveyor at Ujenzi Bora Investment, offers a different view.

“That is rare. Why should contractors spend more on materials if they can make more money by substituting?”

Real estate lawyer, Abdiwahid Biriq of Sagana, Biriq & Co. Advocates says unscrupulous developers have contributed to the rise in cases of poor workmanship and fraud in the sector.

His firm is currently handling cases involving breach of contract, with Mr Biriq saying these disputes arise because of dishonesty.

‘‘There were days when someone could visit the land offices and they were handed papers to sign from home. But this no longer happens because of distrust.

“If a developer promised clay roofing and delivers something different, then that is definitely a breach of the sale agreement. But if there is a leaking roof, then this is a defect. A liability period of six month is provided by law and this mishap is usually repaired by the contractor,” Mr Biriq said.

Whereas the law is clear on defects, most developers never take responsibility. Mr Biriq advises buyers to hire lawyers to help them avoid some of these problems, especially disputes touching on titles and breach of contract.

“It’s better to spend on due diligence than end up losing Sh9 million,” he advises.

What buyers need

He also asks buyers to be cautious and enlist the services of a qualified law firm.

“Has it ever occurred to you what will happen when you offer money to an independent lawyer and they get hit by a car?” he asks, adding that law firms have structures which continue to function in case of any eventuality.

But what recourse should buyers take? Architectural, mechanical, technical, electrical drawings and bill of quantities are the five important documents home buyers should obtain whenever buying off-plan developments.

Bill of quantities (BOQs) clearly state the materials that will be used in the project and specification. Request for unpriced BOQs in case the developer has reservations of you knowing the cost of the materials.

“Most people who buy houses off-plan have little information on the specifications of the building; they rarely ask for documents like structural and architectural drawings and bill of quantities to know exactly the type of sanitary fittings that will be used in your house,” Mr Nahinga said.

When you are buying a house, he noted, you are buying from the roof to the door knob, and these contribute to the cost of the building. These documents are a proper proof in court, in case of breach of sale agreement.

“If a developer shows you a drawing and hasn’t specified the materials that will be used to construct the house, there is a problem,” said Mr Oundo.

The inability of buyers to adequately interrogate the finer details on the sales agreement is another cause of alarm.

Some developers often pass the cost of constructing jogging tracks, swimming pools and club houses to would-be homeowners.
Buyers are advised to check if such costs have been factored in.

Apart from helping home buyers interpret details in the fine print, property lawyers also assist in conducting due diligence on the project. Due diligence is a verification process undertaken by a lawyer or individual on parties involved in a sale transaction.

This includes meeting the developer in person and creating a relationship with them so that you don’t part with money unless you are satisfied, a title deed search to authenticate the signature of the undersigned and doing a background search on the land seller to rule out impersonation.

Lawyers also engage surveyors to ascertain whether the title deed, land number and deed plan for the land tally. Title deeds sometimes don’t match with the deed plan or plot in question.

In the case of property, home buyers are advised to conduct a background check on the construction team, starting with the developer.

Check his reputation, financial status, previous projects and customer feedback. This will help inform you whether they are crooks or genuine. Feedback from previous clients guides the buyer’s decision.

The same due process should be applied to the consulting team. Confirm whether the consultants are registered under relevant professional bodies.

Check their resume, including past projects and conduct a search on the company at the Registrar of Companies.

“If the property later has defects, a professional will be liable because it’s an issue touching on professionalism. But if the house was built by quacks, you will not have recourse,” said Mr Nahinga.

Pre-built houses

In the case of buyers opting for ready houses, Mr Oundo says: “Look at it and ask yourself what aspect of the project you are buying. Is it the house or the plot of land with a structure erected on it?’’

Most property sale contracts often have it that the client is purchasing the land. So be careful.

“What developers actually sell, if you look at sale agreements, is land. The document often quotes the plot number. Buyers should therefore know if they are buying the land or the structure erected on the land,” adds Mr Biriq.

Also ensure you have either titles to the land or in case it’s an apartment or shared space, get the sub-leases. Most developers or sellers hold onto titles so that they can revert to them after the 99-year lease ends.

In case you are purchasing an old house, ensure it’s renovated before you buy. Also hire a structural engineer to do integrity tests on the building to see if it is sound.

The structural tests will also reveal the life span of the building. Most buyers are lured by the beauty of a house only for it to start falling apart before long.

Property owners are also advised to renovate their homes frequently. This ensures the longevity of the building and minimises repair cost whenever you want to dispose of it.

Off-plan buyers should buy only after seeing a sample house.

Full payments

Avoid making payment purchases in full. Delay the payments to prevent the developer from disappearing or doing a shoddy job. Sign documents of occupancy after you have done due diligence.

Buyers can also take time to supervise construction of the houses; at the end of the day it’s your house, you will live in it, not the developer.

Buyers cannot make adjustments on off-plan projects, but they can ensure every aspect of the project matches with the proposed design. Hire a clerk of works; he can supervise the house construction from foundation to roof top. Send the materials for testing if you have to.

If the developer decides to change the materials, they should be of similar quality.

But even with observing all due diligence, unresolved disputes are bound to arise. So how should buyers address disputes?

Mr Oundo advises aggrieved buyers to first seek redress with the developer.

“Find out if you can resolve the problem with the developer. If not, then the buyer can opt for alternative dispute resolution mechanism (arbitration, mediation or adjudication), but the court should be the last resort,” he says.

You can sue the developer if he breaches clearly defined terms and conditions and contractual agreements.

“The seller has contractual obligation to meet the fine details of the agreement,” says Mr Biriq.

-businessdailyafrica.com