Akarera by Jeremiah Orina Ontiri

Piano stores closing across US as kids snub lessons for other activities

Sales decline accelerates as businesses dedicated to the instrument dwindle and music learners opt for less expensive electronic keyboards or used pianos Fewer people are taking up piano lessons and those who do often choose a less expensive electronic keyboard. Photograph: Alamy When Jim Foster opened his piano store 30 years ago, he had 10 competitors selling just pianos. When he closed Foster Family Music in late December, not one was still selling pianos in the Quad-Cities area of Iowa and Illinois. “We did try hard to find a buyer,” Foster said. There were no takers. Stores dedicated to selling pianos like Foster’s are dwindling across the country as fewer people take up the instrument and those who do often opt for a less expensive electronic keyboard or a used piano. Some blame computers and others note the high cost of new pianos, but what’s clear is that a long-term decline in sales has accelerated. The best year for new piano sales in the US was 1909,...

Anti-terror centre warns Kenyans over terrorism

The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has advised Kenyans be extra vigilant and report any threats they may encounter. NCTC said terror threats are still there and called for co-operation to address the menace. The centre is charged with detecting and countering terrorism. The centre said roadsides, lecture halls, dinning halls, residential areas, waiting areas or rest rooms, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels and hospitals remain prime targets for terror attacks. NCTC Director Isaac Ochieng' said crowded places could be "vulnerable to a range of criminal acts including terrorism". "To those who manage crowded places, they need to search the premises during and after opening, remain vigilant during opening hours, ensure emergency exits are secured when not in use to prevent unauthorised entry, check toilets regularly for unattended items and report suspicious activities," he said in a statement. Ochieng' said terrorists may also target th...

Fresh fears in Mombasa as gunmen open fire at church, kill pastor

standard Security personnel are pursuing gunmen who opened fire at a church compound in Majengo slums of Mombasa, killing a pastor and sparking fresh fears of a return to insecurity on the island. The motive of the attack has not been established and no group has claimed responsibility for the mid-morning raid that left worshipers scampering for safety. "We have already begun investigations and police will try to get to the bottom of the matter. This however, is an isolated incident because Mombasa has been calm," said Mombasa County Criminal Investigations Officer, Henry Ondiek. The victim, a popular shopkeeper in Saba Saba - George Karidhimba Muriki of Kimathi Store - was also the secretary of the Maximum Revival Ministry. He was struck several times in the back and appears to have died on the spot. The body lay outside a classroom block at Mvita primary school for hours before police took it away. The attackers briskly sped away down alleys, apparently outwitting poli...

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