Sports in Schools set to resume next week

Kenya’s Sydney Omondi of Mbooni school in their match aganst Adegi of Rwanda during 18th edition of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Games at TGT in Arusha, Tanzania on Wednesday, 21 Aug 19, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya Primary and Secondary School sporting calendar is set to resume after a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to a letter from the Ministry of Education that was copied to all regional, county and sub-county Education directors, the championship will start on June 30 at the grassroots and end on July 7 at the national level, which failed to start due to the first term break.

“The ministry of education in consultation with key stakeholders has decided that co-curricular activities resume gradually. However, due to the short academic calendar, it has been resolved that the championship will only involve athletics at all levels,” the statement read in part.

 The games which are set to hold nationals at Kigari Teachers Training College, Embu, with special needs learners are planned to squire at Machakos Teachers Training College (MTTC) once the schools open for the second term.

 “The purpose of this letter is to inform all sub-county, county and regional directors to start planning, organising and coordinating the championships at their specific level,” the statement continued.

 Confirming the development, Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Secretary General David Ngugi said the government had made the communication with all relevant authorities to organise the events.

 “We are doing everything possible to ensure we host the best sporting activities. I thank the government for allowing the resumption of the championship,” said Ngugi.

 Eliud Wambua, a member of the Athletics Kenya youth sub-committee, thanked the Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha for giving a nod to the resumption of sporting activities in the schools' circles.

“It has been two years since we took a break from sporting activity due to Covid-19 and after serious consultations, we realized we had lost too much talent. I wish to thank the CS Prof. Magoha for allowing us back into action,” said Wambua.

Wambua pointed out that the schools have been grappling with discipline in the learners due to a lack of activities to keep them busy.

“Our learners lacked a chance to participate in the championships and this has led to misconduct on several occasions. Most of them had lost hope and this is a great opportunity to redeem our children,” he added.

He further noted that Secondary Schools Nationals will be used to select a team that will represent the country for the East Africa Secondary School games set for Arusha, Tanzania in September.

Wambua reiterated that school games seed the best athletes to the Athletics Kenya for selection of Team Kenya to the World Under-20 and Youth Championships.