News POST

KILIFI, KENYA: A nominated Jubilee senator from Mombasa County has expressed fears for her life after she claimed to have received threatening messages. Senator Ema Mbura, speaking on Tuesday during a ceremony to mark 100 years since the death of the Mijikenda freedom fighter Mekatilii Wa Menza at Bungale, said she has been receiving messages from people whom she suspected had “bad plans” for her life. She said she had reported the matter to police at the Langata Police Station and is waiting to record an official statement with them before investigations are launched. “After receiving the threatening messages, I took the matter seriously and immediately reported it to the Langata Police Station before I was issued with an OB Number 19,” she said. She told The Standard that a person in Mombasa had been given the duty to look for people who will be trailing her with an aim of either kidnaping or killing her. The MP said problem started after she stood firm to highlight some issues affecting coast people before some influential personalities felt that she was a stubborn leader.

Kenya’s Ezekiel Kemboi won his third 3,000 metres steeplechase world title in convincing style at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow on Thursday. The 31-year-old, two-time Olympic champion, timed eight minutes 06:01 seconds to take gold while compatriot Conseslus Kipruto took silver in 8:06.37 and France’s two-time Olympic silver medallist Mahiedine Mekhissi was third in 8:07.86. Kemboi, also a three-time world silver medallist, had taken the lead at the bell, but dropped back entering the back straight after being elbowed by team-mate Kipruto, who also signalled something was up as he raised his arm angrily. Mekhissi made his move at that moment cruising into second, but just as it seemed he might finally get the better of his close friend Kemboi he stumbled on landing after the third-from-last steeple. Kemboi saw his chance and went wide to pass the Frenchman and then Kipruto rounding the final bend. Kemboi had a clear lead approaching the final obstacle and any hope Kipruto had of catching him ended as the 18-year-old made a mess of hurdling it. It left his older team-mate to drift out wide on the track in his traditional style and cross the line pointing his finger derisively behind him. Paul Kipsiele Koech, who was eyeing to redeem his image after failing to make several national teams, had to settle for fourth place in 8:08.62. Evan Jager of USA came in fifth in 8:08.67 ahead of Matthew Hughes (Canada) 8:11.64, a national record, with Africa Champion Abel Kiprop Mutai finishing sixth in 8:17.04. Today, Ethiopia’s challenge will not be the focus of the Kenya team in 5,000m finals at the Luzhniki Stadium as they seek to end an eight-year-old gold drought. Kenya hopes will be oin Edwin Soi, Isaiah Kiplangat and Thomas Longosiwa.

A University of Manchester scientist has recognised his professor's support by naming a fly after him. Dr Dave Penney found the insect in a 16 million-year-old piece of amber during his work in the Dominican Republic. After it was confirmed as a previously unknown species, he decided to name the fly Proceroplatus preziosii after Prof Richard Preziosi to thank him for his support. Prof Preziosi said he was "delighted" to have given his name to the fly. Dr Penney has been researching amber rocks for about 20 years and has previously discovered over 40 species of insects and spiders, two of which are named after him. He said that he had "wanted to thank Prof Preziosi, who has supported me throughout my research career at Manchester, and thought this would be a novel way to do this". He added that the fly, a member of the Keroplatidae family, was the first of its kind to be found on Hispaniola, the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Prof Preziosi said it had been a "real privilege to be able to support Dr Penney's research". "I am delighted and honoured to have this newly discovered species named after me," he added.

Nairobi, Kenya: Industrialization Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed has appointed Charles Gichahi as Kenya Bureau of Standards acting MD to replaces Eva Oduor who was suspended over gross misconduct. The Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary, Adan Mohamed, announced changes at the Kenya Bureau of Standards on Thursday. This follows a resolution by the National Standards Council to Cabinet Secretary Mohamed recommending the suspension of the immediate Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Managing Director Eva Oduor on gross misconduct claims arising from the recently annulled Mombasa Laboratory project. Following this development, the Ministry has with immediate effect appointed the immediate KEBS Director of Standards Development & International Trade Mr. Charles Gichahi, as the acting Managing Director. The resolution by the National Standards Council has raised fundamental governance issues on the part of the Managing Director. Alongside the management changes, Cabinet Secretary Mohamed further said that the institution that has been without a substantive chair for the last 3 months and will soon have the position filled in the shortest time possible to bolster the important oversight role played by the Board. Speaking in his office Mohamed noted; “We have confidence in the ability of the KEBS to serve the country and beyond, and we shall ensure that its strategic plans are geared towards promoting its mandate.” The institution that serves East Africa has seen its capacity grow considerably over the years and is reputed to be among the best quality standards centre in Africa.

In Summary The soft-spoken Italian also challenged local football officials to raise the performance of the national football team if Kenya is to export more of her football talent to Europe, saying that having players in the EPL and other top leagues go hand in hand with Fifa rankings Former Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has tipped Harambee Stars skipper and Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama to have an illustrious career in the English Premier League. In a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Nation on Wednesday in Nairobi, the 2012 UEFA Champion’s League-winning tactician also said that Wanyama’s move to Southampton should open opportunities for more Kenyan footballers to play in England. “Wanyama has made a very important step for Kenyan football. He now has a big responsibility of raising the profile of Kenyan football and exposing football talent in this country,” the Italian said at the Hotel Intercontinetal in Nairobi. The former Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion manager, who was on a one-day tour to Kenya to promote Guinness Football Manager, an international programme aimed at promoting football in Africa, exuded confidence that the Kenyan holding midfielder who recently made a Sh1.3 billion switch from Scottish giants Celtic to the Saints will enjoy his football in the lucrative English league. “I am here to exchange views and opinion in football and see what needs to be done.”