Taita Taveta comes alive with excitement as the Secondary School Games commence
The Term One games organized by the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) kicked off smoothly in Taita Taveta on Thursday, March 7. The event took place at Voi Boys’ High in Voi Sub-county, bringing together students from the four sub-counties of Mwatate, Wundanyi, Taveta, and Voi.
Various venues, including Voi Boys’ High and Mwambiti Secondary grounds, hosted the three-day sports extravaganza. The competition featured disciplines such as handball, basketball, hockey, rugby, cross-country, and athletics. Notable teams participating include Dr. Aggrey High School, the reigning national secondary schools basketball champions, and Timbila High, which is also a school to watch.
Preliminary matches are set to continue, with playoffs and finals scheduled for Saturday, as confirmed by Taita Taveta KSSSA Secretary Lennox Mzae. Winners in the finals will advance to the Regionals and then the Nationals later in the year.
Despite the excitement surrounding the event, challenges, particularly in terms of insufficient funds, have emerged. Mzae highlighted the financial struggle, with some schools unable to support their students’ participation due to economic difficulties. He urged the government to streamline funding, facilitating broader participation and the development of budding talents.
According to Mzae, the county had two teams participating in the East Africa competitions—Timbila and Dr. Aggrey. He expressed optimism about their performance in the ongoing tournament.
Shadrack Mutungi, the county’s sports minister, emphasized the administration’s commitment to nurturing talents through various sports activities. Looking ahead to the World Schools Cross Country, Mutungi assured collaboration with teachers to identify and train the best players who would represent the county.
Mutungi also highlighted the county’s dedication to supporting sports associations by providing officials with sporting uniforms and enhancing the capacity of teacher-coaches. This support aims to ensure the smooth operation of sporting activities in the county and foster the growth of sports talent.
