Residents of Siaya County have been encouraged to avail their unused houses to the county government to host visitors during the forthcoming Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association (KICOSCA) games.
According to KICOSCA National Chairperson John Achieng Ang’awa, the extra houses under the homestay concept will help ease the anticipated accommodation challenges when the games kick off on November 24.
Addressing the press at his office, Mr. Ang’awa revealed that Siaya County has a bed capacity of fewer than 4,000 against an expected 10,000 visitors, forcing the county government to explore alternative arrangements.
“As it stands, the county government has made arrangements with local boarding schools like Maranda, Nyamira Girls, and Ngiya Girls to accommodate visitors for the five-day event. However, some visitors who prefer privacy and comfort may opt for homestays,” he said.
He noted that there are many homes with extra houses whose owners can take advantage of the opportunity by registering their facilities with the Siaya Sports and Culture offices for formal arrangements.
“I know there are houses in our communities built by relatives who live in the cities. This is an opportunity for residents to embrace the homestay concept and earn extra income,” he added.
Mr. Ang’awa also urged businesspeople, particularly those in the food industry, to take advantage of the games to boost their earnings by setting up food stalls at the event venues.
“We want our people in the food and transport sectors to be ready to serve visitors. Let them prepare to offer a variety of local delicacies and reliable services to both participants and spectators,” he said.
The KICOSCA chairperson stated that the games, which will feature both indoor and outdoor events, are designed to promote the exchange of best practices and cultural integration among employees of the 47 county governments.
The opening and closing ceremonies of the 12th edition of the KICOSCA Games will be held at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium in Siaya town, with special arrangements made to honour the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the five-day event.
By Brian Ondeng
