Kisumu to host 3600 participants as KSSSA Term One games receive Sh30 million boost

Brookside Dairy's corporate communications manager, Wilson Okong'o (L), presents a dummy cheque to Nelson Sifuna, the director of field services and co-curricular activities in the Ministry of Education/ HANDOUT

A total of 3,600 participants are expected at this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term One Games, set for April 6–12 in Kisumu County.

Director of Field Services and Co-curricular Activities at the Ministry of Education, Nelson Sifuna, said the surge in numbers reflects the growing impact of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which has expanded the scope of school sports.

“Since we started the CBC, there has been increased interest in sporting activities to the extent that we have now expanded to 25 sporting events,” Sifuna said. He highlighted a sharp rise in participation over the past two years. “The population of those participating in the national secondary school games has increased from 2,300 in 2023 to 3,600 who will be featuring in this year’s games.”

Sifuna noted that the journey to the national stage has been highly competitive, with teams progressing through a rigorous qualification system from sub-county to regional levels. “We want to assure that the process of selecting teams from the sub-county level to the national stage has been very competitive,” he added.

The heightened competition, he warned, could disrupt traditional powerhouses, with early upsets already recorded. “This year will be more challenging because we are now seeing upsets where teams that were known to dominate in various categories have already been defeated at either the county or regional level.”

He expressed confidence that hosting the games in Nyanza will enhance the atmosphere and fan experience. “We chose Nyanza purposefully because it has a lively feel, and fans will not regret attending the games,” he said. Sifuna also pointed to improved discipline, citing a decline in hooliganism. “This year, there is reduced hooliganism in sport.”

Meanwhile, KSSSA Secretary General David Ngugi confirmed that teams will begin arriving on Sunday ahead of the competition. “We expect the students to arrive on Sunday, rest on Monday and acclimatise before the games start on Tuesday. The closing ceremony will be on Saturday (April 11),” said Ngugi.

He outlined the venues that will host the multi-sport event across Kisumu. “The opening ceremony will be held at Mamboleo Stadium. Rugby, handball and basketball will take place at Kisumu Polytechnic.

Athletics will be staged at Kisumu Boys, where we will prepare a standard track. Kisumu Day will host hockey, while Aga Khan will stage swimming. Teams will be accommodated at Kisumu Boys and St Trizah’s Girls.” Ngugi also underscored the impact of the Sports Management Information System (SMIS) in enhancing integrity in school sports.

“From last year, things have changed. We have introduced an app where once we finish Term Two games, everyone eligible for Term One games is registered by November,” he explained.

“The app is connected to the Ministry’s servers and contains all student information and school records, and it has significantly reduced cases of age cheating.”

The championships have received a major financial boost, with Brookside Dairy injecting Sh30 million into the games. Corporate Communications Manager Wilson Okong’o said the sponsorship reflects the company’s commitment to youth development through sport.

“This year, Brookside Dairy is putting in a total sponsorship of Sh30 million to support the Term One games, in our belief that sport also encourages national integration and social cohesion,” he said.