African press review 27 August 2015

The Kenyan media has once again extensively covered the achievements of its athletes at the World Athletics Championship in Beijing. Both The Daily Nation and The Standard carry photographs of yesterday’s gold medal winners Julius Yego and Hyvin Jepkemoi.  

While javelin thrower Yego gave Kenya its first ever gold medal in a field event, Jepkemoi won the women’s 3000 metre steeplechase gold.

The Daily Nation photo is headlined "Yego spears Kenya’s first gold in Javelin".

However, there is no mention on the front pages of the two Kenyan athletes who failed drugs tests.

The Standard also reports on Pastor James Ng’ang’a getting a temporary reprieve after a Limuru court declined to compel him to submit DNA samples.

The report adds that Ng’ang’a, who was charged last week with causing death due to dangerous driving, suffered a setback when one of his lawyers withdrew from the case citing lack of cooperation from his client.

The daily quoted lawyer Cliff Ombeta as saying that it was no longer safe for him to continue representing Ng’ang’a as his vehicle was stoned last Friday outside the court.

The Daily Nation’s front-page anchor story is on the ultimatum given by teachers to the Teachers Service Commission their employer to increase their basic pay as ordered by the Supreme Court.

According to the report, the unions yesterday said they would call a nationwide strike unless the money is paid by the end of the month.

The National Treasury has warned that increasing the pay for teachers will slow down economic growth.

It adds that following the Supreme Court ruling on Monday, the government will be required to raise the additional 17 billion shillings.

Nigeria's Vanguard reports on President Muhammadu Buhari accusing past administrations of allowing the infrastructure in the oil sector to collapse in order to enable their cronies to steal by importing refined products.

It adds that Buhari expressed his disappointment with the way Nigeria’s oil industry has been run since he left office as petroleum minister and military head of state.

Vanguard also reports on the decision of athlete Blessing Okagbare’s to withdraw from the women 200m event at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

Okagbare’s decision has shocked officials as she was seen as a medal prospect at the event.

She had won a bronze in the 200-metre event and a silver in the long jump at the 2013 championships in Moscow.