North Eastern to host national schools games for the first time

By Oscar Pilipili

One objective of Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) games is to help students understand their country better.

This is achieved with different regions hosting the championships in turns.

But never in the history of the games has North-Eastern Province hosted the activities.

Students who will be in high school next year, however, are likely to enjoy that rare chance of touring the semi-arid region after North Eastern Province Secondary Schools Sports Association (NEPSSSA) were accorded honours to host Term One Games next year.

The provincial federation had placed a bid to host the event that involve basketball, hockey, rugby sevens, cross-country, decathlon, heptathlon and swimming during a KSSSA meeting in Kakamega last Saturday.

With the region being semi-arid, one would wonder whether the provincial body could provide adequate facilities especially for rugby.

Bubbling with optimism, NEPSSSA Secretary Abdul Kadir told FeverPitch in Kakamega nothing would deny them the golden opportunity to host the games.

Great opportunity

"We’re marshalling all stakeholders with the view to convincing them to support our cause," said Kadir.

"This is a very great opportunity for our region to develop its sports facilities," he said.

Kadir also believed that taking the games to North Eastern would lure more youth to join sports.

"Most of our youths don’t understand the importance of sports and hosting the games in Garissa would change their perception in sports," he argued. Kadir insisted that the region has the capacity to stage school games, considering that they have previously successfully hosted National Medical Training Colleges, Teachers Training Colleges and Primary Schools Championships.

Tough conditions

KSSSA have, however, given the hosts-designates tough conditions that they must meet to win the bid.

Chairman Barnabas Kitilit said: "Rugby cannot be played without grass and for this reason we’ve asked them to plant the vegatation by June to convince us they can host the show."

Nyanza has been put on standby just incase North Eastern fails to pass preliminary test. Kadir, who is apparently out to write history, indicated that the federation is negotiing with several stakeholders including Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and Semi-Arid Lands and Counties to fund the project.

"For swimming we’re looking at the 25m pool at Almond Hotel with other events going to Garissa Medical Training College and Teachers Training College," said Kadir.

"Accommodation for officials is readily available with hotel fees ranging from Sh500 to Sh3,000," he said.

Big hotels in Garissa County include three-star Nomad Palace Hotel and prestigious luxury Almond Resort Hotel that are next to River Tana.

Kadir said: "Kenyan children have learned more about culture of other parts of the country and I strongly believe it’s time for them to tour North Eastern," he insisted.