KAKAMEGA: Kakamega County has officially been confirmed as the host of both the East African Secondary School Games and the Kenya National School Term Two Games this year. Consequently, a delegation from the Ministry of Education, the Federation of the East African Secondary School Sports Association (FEASSA), and the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSA) are on a three-day tour of the county to assess the available sporting facilities in readiness for the events to be held at the end of July and August this year.
According to Kenya News Agency, the team kicked off the tour with a courtesy call to the Western Regional Security team led by Regional Commissioner Mr. Irungu Macharia. The Regional Commissioner assured the team that adequate security arrangements would be put in place to ensure the event, to be attended by students and delegates from six East African Community countries as well as six other guest countries, is a success. He stated that the government and Kakamega county government would work together to ensure that the ongoing renovations at the Bukhungu stadium are fast-tracked in readiness for the event.
‘When President William Ruto was here in Kakamega, he directed that the stadium be ready by June this year, and will ensure the contractor adheres to the directive,’ he added. The Head of the Directorate of Field and Co-Curricular Activities in the Ministry of Education, Nelson Sifuna, said his team is visiting the sporting fields where the games would be held. He highlighted the importance of assessing available sporting facilities and appealed for support in terms of security, acknowledging Kakamega county’s significant fan support, along with neighboring Uganda.
‘We expect officials from the International Sport Federation, which is an international sports governing body for school sport, as well as teams outside of the EAC region to attend,’ Sifuna said. He noted that the event would provide an opportunity for players to showcase their talents, potentially earning them sponsorships outside the region.
The Secretary-General of the Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA), David Ngugi, appealed to both the National and Kakamega County government to expedite renovations at Bukhungu stadium. The team emphasized the need for the two levels of government to complete the renovations on time, especially the playing field, so that the final football matches are played under an enclosed venue to control hooliganism. Various games will be played, including soccer, volleyball, tennis, basketball, netball, lawn tennis, and swimming, although many fans tend to focus a lot on football.