Stage set for KECOSO games in Kisii

Athletes in men's 110m hurdles in last year's Kenya Communications Sports Organisation (KECOSO) games. [Eric Lungai]

Over 10 government parastatals and three-line ministries have confirmed participation in the 40th edition of Kenya Communications Sports Organizations (KECOSO) to be held in Kisii, from Saturday.

Some of the teams that have confirmed participation are defending champions Kenya Ports Authority, Postal Corporation of Kenya, Kenya Ferry Services, Kenya Maritime Authority, Communication Authority of Kenya and Kenya Film Classification Board.

Others are Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Kenya Airports Authority.

Ministries of Transport and Infrastructure, Sports and Culture and Information and Communication Technology will also take part in this year's championships.

This year's edition will involve over 1,000 athletes competing in 12 disciplines; golf, football, basketball, volleyball, netball, scrabble, darts, table tennis, swimming, pool, darts and athletics.

Kenya Ports Authority bagged the golf title over the weekend at the Kisii Golf Club.

The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology Joe Mucheru will be the guest of honour during the official opening of the games on Saturday.

Officials have invited former Kenyan Premier League side Shabana FC as a guest team to the one-week sports extravaganza that will be held in different venues.

The opening match on Saturday will be between Shabana FC and Postal Corporation of Kenya, at Gusii Stadium.

According to KECOSO Technical Committee chairman Muchiri Wachira, who is also the National volleyball coordinator, they expect to have a successful tournament.

“By extending invitation to the local teams is a way of taking sports to the grassroots, which, in turn, attracts huge participation of the locals,” Wachira told Standard Sports.