Kenya Inter Counties Games set for Nakuru in August

Nakuru, Kenya: The Kenya Inter Counties Sports and Cultural Association (Kicosca) Games will be held in Nakuru from August 17-24.

A total of 20 out of 47 counties have confirmed participation with the number expected to increase as the date draws nearer.

Kicosca chairman Fredrick Rembere said Nakuru was given the onus of hosting the one-week competition after members preferred it to Mombasa due to insecurity.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony of the Kicosca Ceremonial Chain and the Peace Torch from former patron and Nairobi County Governor Dr. Evans Kidero to his Nakuru counterpart Kinuthia Mbugua, Rembere appealed to the Council of Governors to support the games, now in its second edition, after the new constitutional dispensation.

As a result, Mbugua was installed as the new Kicosca Games patron and he will serve for a one-year term.

"Governors need to support us so that we make the games more vibrant as they were in the initial stages until recently," said Rembere.

The competition that was initially referred to as the Kenya Inter Municipalities Sports and Cultural Association (KIMSCA) Games was started in 1978 and has all served under the same banner until the promulgation of the New Constitution in 2010.

Kidero, who was represented by County Executive Committee member for Education, Sports, Culture and Gender Christopher Khaemba, appealed to their council chairman Isaac Ruto to convene their next meeting in Nakuru to coincide with the commencement of the games.

"The town is a preferred destination for sports and tourism and a haven for peace besides its favorable environment suitable for different economic activities," Kidero said in a statement during the event attended by the games' executive committee, its governing council members, Members of County Assembly and their speakers from different parts of the country.

Others were counties Sports Ministers from participating counties and reporters.

Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua assured the participating teams of adequate security during the competition and called on visitors to visit the tourist resorts of Lake Nakuru National Park and Menengai Crater.

"There will be adequate security and there should be no cause for alarm as we will also ensure those who visit the tourist resort centers get there happily after the games," said the governor.

The games, which were held in Nairobi last year, will see participanta take part in football, basketball, netball, handball, volleyball, cultural dances, athletics, ajua, choir, tug ofwar, darts, table tennis, squash and badminton.

At the end of the games, different teams will be selected for the East African Games set for Uganda in October.

Rembere said they will select quality players ahead of the regional games in Kampala.

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