Actionbar menu items not visible

I want icons on action bar, but I am getting them in the menu options... Here is my xml

<menu xmlns:android="http://ift.tt/nIICcg"
xmlns:app="http://ift.tt/GEGVYd">

    <item
    android:id="@+id/share"
    android:orderInCategory="100"
    android:title="Share on Whatsapp"
    app:showAsAction="always"/>
    <item
    android:id="@+id/medication"
    android:title="My Medications"
    android:icon="@drawable/medication"
    app:showAsAction="always"/> 

    <item
    android:id="@+id/coc"
    android:title="Add Circle of care"
    android:icon="@drawable/add_icon"
    app:showAsAction="always"/> 

   <item
    android:id="@+id/report"
    android:title="Report"
    android:icon="@drawable/report"
    app:showAsAction="always"/> 
    </menu>

and here is the java

@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    // Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
    getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.dashboard, menu);
    return true;
}


 @Override
public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
    // Handle action bar item clicks here. The action bar will
    // automatically handle clicks on the Home/Up button, so long
    // as you specify a parent activity in AndroidManifest.xml.
    int id = item.getItemId();

    //noinspection SimplifiableIfStatement
    if (id == android.R.id.home) {
        menu.toggle(true);
        return true;
    }

    if(id==R.id.coc){
        startActivity(new Intent(Dashboard.this,CircleOfCare.class));
    }


    return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
}

What am I missing.. I am extending Activity.. If I extend ActionBarActivity, it says, use theme.appcompat or descendant even when I am using that theme only. Please help, thanx in advance