More than 3,600 students from across the country are expected in Kisumu County for this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term One Games, marking a significant rise in participation driven by ongoing reforms in the education sector.
The championships, scheduled for April 6–12, reflect the growing emphasis on co-curricular development under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which has broadened opportunities for learners to engage in sports.
According to the Ministry of Education’s Director of Field Services and Co-curricular Activities, Nelson Sifuna, the number of disciplines and participants has expanded steadily since the rollout of the new curriculum.
“We have seen a steady increase in interest in sports, which has led to the expansion to 25 different disciplines. Participation at the national level has grown from about 2,300 students in 2023 to 3,600 this year,” he said.
Sifuna noted that the various teams earned their slots through a competitive selection process that began at the grassroots level.
“The journey from sub-county competitions to the national stage has been rigorous, ensuring that only the best teams qualify,” he said.
The heightened level of competition has already reshaped the landscape, with some long-dominant teams eliminated before reaching the national stage.
“We are witnessing a shift where teams that traditionally performed well are being knocked out earlier. This points to a more competitive and balanced field,” he added.
The choice of Nyanza Region as host, he said, is expected to inject vibrancy into the games, given the region’s strong sporting culture and enthusiastic fan base.
“We expect an exciting atmosphere. Nyanza has a reputation for passionate support, and that will enhance the overall experience,” he said, while also noting improved discipline among participants and fans.
KSSSA Secretary General, David Ngugi, said teams will start arriving on Sunday to allow time for rest and acclimatization ahead of the competitions.
“Participants will report on Sunday, take Monday to settle in, and competitions will begin on Tuesday, with the closing ceremony planned for Saturday,” he said.
Events, he said, will be staged across multiple venues within Kisumu where preparations are underway to make the event a success.
The opening ceremony, he said, will be held at Jomo Kenyatta Internationa Stadium in Mamboleo, while rugby, basketball and handball matches will be played at Kisumu Polytechnic.
Athletics competitions will take place at Kisumu Boys High School, where preparations have been finalised. The school’s principal, Austin Muma, confirmed readiness.
“All the sports facilities are in place and ready to host the athletes,” he said.
Other venues include Kisumu Day High School for hockey and Aga Khan School Kisumu for swimming, with accommodation arranged at Kisumu Boys and St Trizah’s Girls.
Ngugi said the introduction of the Sports Management Information System (SMIS) has strengthened accountability in school sports by streamlining registration and verifying eligibility.
“The system captures student data early and links directly with Ministry records, which has greatly reduced cases of age discrepancies,” he said.
The event has also attracted corporate backing, with Brookside Dairy committing Sh30 million towards the games.
By Chris Mahandara
