Teachers and pupils of Effort Junior School in Kerugoya, Kirinyaga County, were overjoyed as they welcomed back two schoolmates who represented Kenya at the Commonwealth Schools Chess Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Prince Kabui Junior, who competed in the under-nine category, and Nathaniel Ngigi, an under-16 player, returned to the country after an international experience and testing their skills against opponents from different countries and backgrounds.
Ngigi described the experience in Malaysia as exciting, saying it exposed them to new cultures and experiences while teaching them important lessons about chess and personal development.
“Chess is not only about moving pieces; it is also a game of the brain. It is about anticipating your next move and your opponent’s move. It also encourages critical thinking, problem-solving and many other skills,” he said.
Although the players did not achieve all their desired results in the competition, Ngigi said the experience had motivated them to work harder in preparation for future tournaments.
He pledged to continue practising and improving his game while maintaining a balance between his chess ambitions and academic responsibilities.
“Even though I am a Grade 9 candidate, I should also focus on my talent and my studies. Whether you are in Grade 9 or Grade 6, you can still participate in chess,” he said.
Kabui, who competed in the under-9 category, described the tournament as enjoyable but challenging, noting that some opponents were difficult to defeat.
“It was very fun to play, but some people are hard to defeat. However, I still managed to defeat some of them. I was number 1 in Under 9 Kenya,” he said.
Their trainer, Samuel Kiragu, said the achievement had required considerable commitment from both the pupils and those supporting their development, particularly because some competitions took place during school holidays.
He noted that participating in international tournaments had given the pupils an opportunity to challenge themselves against players from different countries and racial backgrounds, helping them assess their abilities against a wider field of competitors.
Kiragu said the trip had also demonstrated to other learners what discipline, diligence and commitment could achieve, adding that the exposure would help the young players develop confidence and set higher goals for their future.
“Getting to Malaysia is a good show for the rest of the school of what diligence and commitment can do. They had a good experience because we have been able to learn a lot,” he said.
He added that the experience had laid a strong foundation for the pupils at a critical stage of their education, helping them recognise the opportunities available to them if they continued to receive adequate support.
The trainer called on parents and teachers to invest more time and resources in nurturing children’s talents, saying learners needed guidance and encouragement to realise their full potential.
“I would like to urge parents and my fellow teachers to try our level best to give these children the best foundation possible. We should learn as much as we can so that we can be the river these children drink from and commit resources and time to support them,” he said.
Effort Junior School Director John Mwai described the international trip as an eye-opener that had exposed the pupils to opportunities beyond their immediate environment.
Mwai said the experience had reinforced the importance of identifying and nurturing different talents among learners, particularly under the competency-based curriculum (CBC), which emphasises the development of learners’ abilities and practical skills.
“Such exposure benefits not only the learners who travel to represent the country but also their peers, who gain inspiration from their achievements,” he said.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
