Thursday 31 July 2014

Red hot Nijel stuns world champ Rudisha in 800m final

Olympic and world record holder David Rudisha had to settle for silver after Nijel Amos from Botswana burst past with less than 50m to go to win the men’s 800m final Thursday.
Rudisha and compatriot Ferguson Rotich locked their rivals with some front running strategy until the last bend when Nijel went on the outside lane before sprinting past the East Africans.
Nijel, who lost to Rudisha at the 2012 London Olympics, clocked 1:45.18 to triumph as the Kenyan settled for second in 1:45.48.
Rotich came in fourth in 1:46.09 behind South Africa’s Olivier Andre 1:46.03. It was Rudisha’s third defeat at the hands of Nijel after Eugene and Monaco legs of the Diamond League.
World champion Eunice Sum, 26, set the stage for her second major title within a year when glided through the rains at Hampden Park to win her semi-final 800m.
A TACTICAL SUM
A tactical Sum stayed in front to win in 2:01.38 but her mentor and 2007 Osaka World champion Janeth Jepksogei’s dream of recapturing the title went up is smoke after finishing seventh in 2:04.60 in the second semi-final.
Jessica Judd from England powered to victory in 2:02.26 to set up an explosive looking final battle with Sum today. “It wasn’t easy but I just had to run my race and I feel great to reach the final,” said Sum. “I just want to be on the podium and that will be a great achievement for me irrespective of the colour of the medal.”
Despite failing to reach the final, Jepkosgei, who won the 800m title at the 2006 Melbourne, said she wasn’t disappointed even though Glasgow Games marked her last “Club” Games.

Thursday 10 July 2014

Plans to have special police unit for Nairobi


A woman walks past police officers at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on July 7, 2014. A Bill being drafted for approval by the Senate seeks to establish a special police unit for Nairobi to deal with terrorism and other forms of crime. PHOTO/EVANS HABIL
A woman walks past police officers at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on July 7, 2014. A Bill being drafted for approval by the Senate seeks to establish a special police unit for Nairobi to deal with terrorism and other forms of crime. 

The city of Nairobi could soon be served by a special police unit to deal with terrorism and other forms of crime, if a Bill being drafted for approval by the Senate becomes law.
The Bill, to be tabled by Senate Majority Leader Prof Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka-Nithi, TNA), would see Kenya join other countries that have a special force that focuses on ensuring their main cities are free of criminals in order to win investor confidence.
“Security is a sensitive issue, hence the need to start off with Nairobi before thinking of rolling out the initiative to other major towns countrywide,” he said.
Prof Kindiki said the Bill is a culmination of the recent unanimous passage of a motion urging the national government to transform the Nairobi City Inspectorate Department into a modern metropolitan security agency to be under the watch of the Inspector General of Police.
The senator said the inspectorate department is not well facilitated to fight serious crimes though it enjoys policing functions, enforces traffic rules and has its own court to try suspected offenders whom they arrest.
MODERNISE INSPECTORATE
“The city inspectorate department is moribund with no sophisticated manpower to deal with insecurity.
It’s a civilian outfit that is not useful hence the need to modernise and upscale it to support what the police service does,” said Mr Kindiki.
The Senator said Parliament is constitutionally empowered to establish through legislation other police services outside the existing ones in order to ensure the safety of Kenyans and their properties.
“Though provision of security was a national government’s function, the constitution allows for establishment of police formations to supplement the roles of the National Police Service,” said Mr Kindiki.
He said the country will never have enough police officers to match its need for security, hence the need for the integrated arrangement to tackle crime.
Prof Kindiki observed that since Nairobi is the economic and political hub of the country, unchecked cases of insecurity risked driving away investors and eventually slowing down economic growth.
COMPLEMENTING POLICE WORK
“Nairobi is the gateway to the country’s various towns besides being a commercial hub that significantly contributes to the country’s overall revenue.
“This agency would complement the work of the police and other law enforcers to tackle crime and eventually create confidence to both Kenyans living in the city and foreign investors,” he added.
Senate Majority Chief Whip Beatrice Elachi (nominated, APK) asked county governments to be actively involved in fighting crime as opposed to only looking up to the national government to provide adequate security.
Saying security was a collective responsibility, she challenged the County Assembly of Nairobi to enact appropriate laws that support the formation of the special security agency.
Senator Elachi said that the police unit, once successful in Nairobi, can be replicated in other major towns to improve the country’s current security situation that she said was a threat to development.
KENYA'S IMAGE AFFECTED
“The new security personnel would play a critical role in dealing with the runway insecurity within these cities, which adversely affects Kenya’s image internationally and hampers investment,” she said.
Kitui Senator David Musila (Wiper) said the National Police Service was overwhelmed and called for an intensified approach in the detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes.
“This is our main challenge. The Metropolitan police will make this easy and reduce crime. As a criminal gets sophisticated, the police must equally be sophisticated” he said.
Senator Zipporah Kittony (nominated, Kanu) said such a force would require special training to enable its members to operate above board.
“The current police are known for crimes. The special unit once formed should be friendly and stick to their core duty of maintaining law and order,” she said

Britney Spears offers Jimmy Fallon a spanking

Britney Spears has told Jimmy Fallon he can have a spanking from her "anytime". PHOTO/BANG SHOWBIZ
Britney Spears has told Jimmy Fallon he can have a spanking from her "anytime.
Britney Spears has told Jimmy Fallon he can have a spanking from her "anytime".
The 'Perfume' singer watched with amusement when her friend Nicole Richie told Jimmy during her interview on 'The Tonight Show' on Monday evening thatgetting slapped across the butt by Britney on stage in Las Vegas was the "greatest moment" of her life.
After her revelation, Jimmy seemed very amused and impressed with the story and now Britney has extended the offer to the talk show host.
The 32-year-old pop superstar posted on Twitter: "Good girls need spankings too @nicolerichie ;) ... You've got an open invitation for one anytime @jimmyfallon (sic)"
Nicole, 32, had been dancing and singing along at one of Britney's 'Piece of Me' residency shows at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in February when she was brought on stage and had her butt cheeks stung by whip-wielding Britney.
Recalling the moment, the fashion designer said: "I finally went to go see her in concert. I'm grooving, I'm having the best time.
"All of a sudden, her big security guard just taps me on the shoulder. He says, 'Come with me.' He pulls me up on stage ... and her dancers come over to me and whisper 'Get on all fours' ... It's just something you don't question.
"Britney Spears came out when I was 15. And this was the last time in my life that I was like a die-hard fan.
"That love never went away; when I see Britney Spears, I turn into my 15-year-old self."

Woman sets self-ablaze

A 70 year old woman in Kamuli district is currently nursing serious wounds after she allegedly set herself ablaze on claims that she wanted to join her late husband who died ten years ago.
Ms Jane Takwemazayo, a resident of Busibiria LC1 Kamuli district allegedly gathered old jerry cans, beddings, her clothes on Tuesday and set them on fire before jumping into it. However, she was rescued by her neighbours.
Ms Takwemazayo’s son, Lawrence Isanga said his mother has been battling a mental illness since the death of her husband in a house fire ten years ago.
Mr Isanga further explained his mother had last week disappeared and feared dead, only to be found in Kaliro district and she was sent back home.
“My mother has for some time now been haunted by the clan and our father’s spirits. It is not yet a week since we returned her from Kaliro where she had disappeared from,” Mr Isanga said, adding that she has refused to go to the hospital preferring local herbs treatment.