Team Kenya flagged off for East African Secondary schools’ competition

Education Principal Secretary  Richard Kipsang  hands  over  the flag. [PHOTO: MARTIN MUKANGU]

By OSCAR PILIPILI

Team Kenya for forthcoming East African Secondary Schools Games was flagged off in Nairobi on Monday.

The competition is scheduled to run from August 24 to September 2 in the northern Uganda city of Lira.

Principal Secretary, Department of Education, Belio Kipsang, confirmed that Kenya would be represented by 571 students who will compete under various disciplines.

Dr Kipsang reminded the teams that Kenya was a winning nation and urged them to better the previous performance where they bagged a total of 16 medals, among them seven gold, five silver and four bronze.

While flagging off the team at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology headquarters, Kipsang assured parents that measures have been put in place to ensure students compete in a friendly environment.

He said: “Ministry officials will be present in Lira to ensure there is right environment for our students to compete in.” 

According to the itinerary released by Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Secretary David Ngugi, all teams are expected to report at Friends School Kamusinga and Moi Girls Kamusinga on Thursday.

The contingent would then cross over to Uganda the following day ready for the opening ceremony scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Olympic High football girls’ players Lilian Awuor and Mary Wanjiru and Upper Hill’s Kevin Omondi (football) and Joseph Ongoro (basketball) had the privilege of receiving the flag on behalf of Team Kenya contingent.

Awuor, who is captain of Olympic team, said: “The performance of Kenya at East African Games has always been going up and we’re determined to maintain the upward trend.”

Acting Education Secretary Kiragu Wa Magochi and Acting Director Quality Assurance and Standards Mohammed Mwinyipembe also graced the flagging off ceremony.

The forthcoming championships bring together six countries under the auspices of Federation of East African Secondary School Sports Association.