July inflation falls on lower food prices

A customer shops at a supermarket. The cost of living in July eased, with inflation falling to 6.62 per cent from 7.03 per cent a month earlier following reduction in prices of food items. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• “This resulted from observed decreases in prices of several food items outweighing the increases,” KNBS director general Zachary Mwangi said in the update.
• Analysts had expected inflation to reach 9 per cent this year following a weakening of the Kenya shilling by about 12 per cent this year.

By JOSHUA MASINDE
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The cost of living in July eased, with inflation falling to 6.62 per cent from 7.03 per cent a month earlier following reduction in prices of food items

The reduction comes on the back of a weakening shilling which was expected to lead to high cost of living.

EABL announces 40pc growth in net profit

In Summary

• The firm’s Group Managing Director Charles Ireland said the growth presents a brighter future for the beer maker after the recent tax revision on its low-end market beer, senator keg.
• East African Breweries recorded a six per cent rise in net sales to bring in Sh64.4 billion led by high sales of spirits across the region.

By EDWIN OKOTH
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East African Breweries has announced a 40 per cent jump in profits for the year ending June 2015 to Sh9.6 billion.

The company has attributed the earnings surge to increased sales of its spirits, premium beer and ready to drink products as well as an overall growth from its three subsidiaries.

The firm’s Group Managing Director Charles Ireland said the growth presents a brighter future for the beer maker after the recent tax revision on its low-end market beer, senator keg.

Uhuru directs govt agencies to promote diligent workers

President Uhuru Kenyatta. He has directed government agencies to promote six public servants listed by the ombudsman for their outstanding performance in the civil service. FILE PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• The President, in a speech read on his behalf by Attorney-General Githu Muigai, praised the State workers who scooped top awards.
• Meru Central Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Kimiti won this year’s Huduma Ombudsman Award.
• Teachers Milka Njoki of Ndururumo High School and Sophia Atieno received certificates for their outstanding performances.
• Recently, the Huduma team received a United Nations Public Service Award for improving delivery of public service.

By ISAAC ONGIRI
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By SAMWEL BORN MAINA
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President Uhuru Kenyatta Friday directed government agencies to promote six public servants listed by the ombudsman for their outstanding performance in the civil service.

The President, in a speech read on his behalf by Attorney-General Githu Muigai, praised the State workers who scooped top awards.

Kenya Airways fall is plot to seize firm, says Orange party

ODM chairman John Mbadi. He has urged the government to immediately institute a forensic audit of Kenya Airways by a reputable international firm. FILE PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Mr Mbadi spoke Friday after holding a meeting with Cord leader Raila Odinga at the latter’s office at Capitol Hill, Nairobi.
• He urged the government, as the single largest shareholder of the airline, to immediately institute a forensic audit by a reputable international firm.
• JKIA has a daily turnover of between Sh400 million and Sh500 million, which is largely attributed to Kenya Airways, according to Mbadi.

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
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The Orange Democratic Movement claims there is a scheme to bring down Kenya Airways so that it can be acquired by “corrupt cartels”.

ODM chairman John Mbadi said the dip in profits of the airline appears to have been created to force critical staff into going on strike and quitting to provide an excuse for the take over of the company.

Mr Mbadi spoke Friday after holding a meeting with Cord leader Raila Odinga at the latter’s office at Capitol Hill, Nairobi.

Undated file picture shows Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden who was shot dead by US commandos in Abbottabad, Pakistani on May 2, 2011. Some of his family members were killed in a plane crash in the UK. AFP PHOTO 

In Summary

• Osama Bin Laden's father Mohammed was a construction industry magnate and his numerous descendants constitute a prominent family with wide-ranging business interests.
• Mohammed Bin Laden himself died in a plane crash in Saudi Arabia in 1967.

By AFP
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LONDON

Members of Osama Bin Laden's family were among the victims in the crash of a private jet in Britain, the Saudi embassy in London said Saturday in a message of condolences.

Four people died when the Saudi Arabia-registered plane ploughed into a car auction site and burst into flames in southern England on Friday.

Nairobi men suffer most domestic abuse as Western tops in violence against women

The study conducted by Nation’s Newsplex project together with the Institute of Economic Affairs, a public policy think tank, also found that women who have been married more than once are the most likely to experience violence. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Men living in Nairobi are more likely to be battered than those living in other areas of the county at 11.3 per cent, the study shows.
• Western region is leading in domestic violence against women at 36.6 per cent.
• The study sought to find out whether both genders need legal protection as claimed by Maendeleo ya Wanaume chairman Nderitu Njoka.
• However, some experts we spoke to insisted that violence against women cuts across all socio-economic groups.

By JOAN THATIAH
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Kenyan women are nearly four times more likely to suffer from domestic violence than their men compatriots, a study shows.

An examination of data from the Economic Survey shows the most the vulnerable women are those aged between 25 to 29 years followed by 20 to 24 years.

The data also shows that men living in Nairobi and other big towns are more likely to be battered than their rural counterparts.

KRA softens stance on manufacturers over excise tax

KRA commissioner of domestic taxes, Alice Owuor (right) with the commissioner general John Njiraini at a past event. FILE PHOTO | DIANA NGILA |   NATION MEDIA GROUP

By KIARIE NJOROGE

In Summary

• The authority has asked the manufacturers to write to it explaining the difficulties they are facing in complying after which it will review their cases individually and issue the temporary letters of operation.
• The agreement with Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) will offer a reprieve to manufacturers whose products would have been taken off the shelves by retailers to avoid conflict with the taxman.
• On Wednesday, KAM said the taxman had denied more than 80 per cent of its members the excise tax licence, effectively prohibiting them from manufacturing and selling excisable goods.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has adopted a softer stance allowing manufacturers who are yet to get their excise duty licences to continue operating provided they get interim letters of operation from the taxman.

The authority has asked the manufacturers to write to it explaining the difficulties they are facing in complying after which it will review their cases individually and issue the temporary letters of operation.