Kisumu comes alive with song and dance

Harris Ontiri and Zena Atieno of Mtwapa Primary School in Kilifi rehearse a duet conducted by Eddah Kamau and John Mwangi at the Citam Kisumu yesterday. Over 130,000 participants are converging at the lakeside city of Kisumu for the annual Music Festival starting today Monday August 3 that will peak with a State Concert hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta on August 15. [PHOTO/GEORGE ORIDO/STANDARD]

The annual Kenya Schools and Colleges Music festival opens in Kisumu today.

School buses were yesterday streaming into the lakeside city packed with participants from across the country. Those who had already arrived were busy rehearsing ahead of the big day.

The event is expected to bring over 130,000 students to the lakeside town.

Mtwapa Primary School teachers Eddah Kamau and John Mwangi were with their pupils Zena Atieno, Shukurani Baya, Harris Ontiri and Nizam Sammy for the solo and duet performances set for today and tomorrow.

"I thank God for the safe journey and the weather seems to be the same as that of Kilifi so we are happy and we hope for the best for our pupils," said Ms Kamau.

The Festival Executive Secretary Benson Abwao said they had finished preparations for the festival.

"We have just met the adjudicators, the local organising team and the security team and everything is in place as we wait to receive the students."

The students drawn from kindergarten all, the way to the university will compete in over 600 categories in four venues concurrently.

The venues include Kisumu Boys High School, Kisumu Girls High School, Lions High School and Christ is The Answer Ministry Amphitheatre.

national values

This year's theme is "Consolidating our national values and ideals". The festival will culminate in a gala on August 13 while President Uhuru Kenyatta will have a taste of the very best on August 15.

The President is expected to host the students at Kisumu State Lodge, overlooking the second largest fresh water lake in the world–Lake Victoria.

For the first time, the festival will feature Western and Latino music and dances.

"This is the way to grow and have our students have a taste of the rest of the world," Mr Abwao said.

The new class is seen as an enrichment to the popular Zilizopendwa category that has been the toast of the festival over the years.