The 39th edition of Kenya Communications Sports Organization (KECOSO) games officially kicked off on Sunday 13 August at Bukhungu stadium Kakamega marking 40 years since the games were first held.
Kakamega County Deputy Governor H.E. Philip Museve Kutima who represented the Governor and read his speech, welcomed the guests and participants to Kakamega for the sports festival and thanked the organisation’s governing council for choosing the county as the host to this event that brings together various public agencies from the Ministry of Information and Communication as well as the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. The Governor promised his support to ensure its successful completion adding that Kakamega as a county has produced polished sportsmen who have represented the country in international competitions in various sports disciplines such as Soccer, Rugby, Athletics and Volleyball among others.
H.E. the Governor said his government was committed to developing sports facilities and talents to ensure the youth are engaged in diverse sports activities in line with the government’s objectives of creating employment opportunities. “We have moved with speed to ensure our rich sports talent is tapped and nurtured from the grassroots level so as to enhance the county’s socio-economic status,” he added. He announced that the second phase upgrade of Bukhungu stadium into a world class sports facililty is soon to begin after Kakamega County Assembly approved this year’s budget with an allocation of nearly half a billion being directed to the Department of Social Services, Culture, Youths and Sports for upgrade of the county’s sports facilities.
In his speech delivered by Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Fatma Hirsi, Information and Communications Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru thanked the county government of Kakamega for supporting the competitions. The CS said he recognizes the value added by sporting activities to both government and individual officers and expressed optimism that the competitions will continue to produce champions competing globally in all disciplines at the international stage such as All Africa games, Olympics and the World Athletics among others.
Also Present was the CECM for Social Services, Youths, Culture and Sports Hon. Robert Makhanu, Postmaster General Dan Kagwe, Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Francis Wangusi and KECOSO Governing Council Chairman Cyril Wayong’o among others.
Meanwhile, last week H.E. Prof. Philip Museve Kutima flagged off eight teams comprising of 136 participants to represent Kakamega county and the country in the upcoming East Africa School Games to be held from 10th-19th August in Muzanze, Rwanda.
The teams are Kakamega High School rugby 15s’ and soccer teams, St. Peter’s Boys Mumias rugby sevens, Archbishop Njenga soccer girls, Malava Boys volleyball, Musingu High school hockey, Butere girls high school basketball and a composite team for athletes and indoor games. Kakamega county has the highest number of teams participating.
H.E. the deputy governor congratulated the group for an exemplary performance during the just concluded national competitions held at Hill school, Eldoret. He called on the young athletes to proudly and courageously carry the county and country flags high in Rwanda. Prof. Kutima said the county government of Kakamega understands the importance of sports with regards to fostering unity and cohesion in the society and nurturing talents. “As you go out there to represent our country, remember sports is no longer just a leisure activity but a high income generating business,” he said. The deputy governor assured them of Kakamega County Government’s full support to ensure their talents are nurtured through among other approaches equiping of the various sports facilities in the county, strengthening the county sports committee and revamping the sports youths training centres in all the 60 wards.
Social Services, Youths, Culture and Sports CECM Hon. Robert Makhanu announced that the county government through his ministry was engaging Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technolgy (MMUST) for a possibility of the institution to offer scholarships to bright and needy students who excel in both sports and academics.
Present also were CEC Members for Roads, Public Works and Energy Dr. Collins Matemba and his Education, Science and Technology counterpart Joseph Indire, Chief Officer Phitalis Masakhwe, MCAs, County Director of Sports Moses Muchiri, Stadium Manager Titus Otiende, County Youths & Sports development officer Edward Odera, Chairman Western Region Secondary schools Sports Association Francis Juma and the association’s Secretary Quinto Omusugu as well as the association’s Kakamega County Chairman Martin Waswa among others.