Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has flagged off more than 4,000 students from 109 schools who will represent the County at the Kenya National Drama and Music Festivals and the National Sports Games, while presenting a Sh3 million cheque to support their participation.
The students are scheduled to travel to Bungoma County in batches, with the first group departing on Thursday and the remaining contingent leaving on Friday ahead of the National competitions set to run from August 1 to 14 at Kibabii University.
This year’s Kenya National Drama and Music Festivals will be held under the theme “Enhancing the Creative Economy through Artistic Expression for Sustainable Development”.
The support was provided through the Shariff Nassir Foundation, with the County Government of Mombasa facilitating logistics to ensure the learners travel comfortably and participate effectively in the national competitions.
Addressing students, teachers and education stakeholders during the flag-off ceremony at Treasury Square, Governor Nassir said the financial support was intended to complement—not replace—the contributions already made by schools and parents in preparing the learners.
He said the funds would be shared fairly among participating institutions regardless of whether they were Early Childhood Development (ECD), primary or secondary schools.
“There is going to be Sh3 million that is going to be given to the schools. It does not matter if you are from an ECD, a primary school or a secondary school,” he said, adding that the relevant county departments had already developed a transparent distribution formula.
The governor said supporting learners participating in co-curricular activities was a cause close to his heart because he had also taken part in the Kenya Music and Drama Festivals during his school days.
“I say this because I was one of them. Even I participated in the Music and Drama Festival,” he said.
Nassir expressed hope that the initiative would become an annual county programme to ensure learners representing Mombasa receive adequate support whenever they qualify for national competitions.
The governor also criticised the growing practice of schools organising roadside fundraising campaigns involving learners to raise travel expenses for national events.
He said the practice had become a source of concern among parents, elected leaders and members of the public, adding that children should not be exposed to unnecessary risks while seeking financial support.
“This is a concern from parents and the leadership. I do not want to see a child from Mombasa standing along Mama Ngina Drive or at a public beach asking motorists and members of the public for money to travel to Bungoma,” he said.
Nassir described the practice as ethically unacceptable, warning that exposing children in public places could make them vulnerable to exploitation by individuals with ill intentions.
“I think it is ethically wrong to do that because there are bad people who can take advantage of our children,” he added.
The governor said the Kenya National Drama and Music Festivals and the National Sports Games were about more than winning medals and trophies, noting that the competitions nurture discipline, creativity, teamwork, confidence and leadership among learners.
He said the festivals also provide an important platform for identifying and nurturing young talent while promoting innovation and cultural expression.
Nassir urged the students to represent Mombasa with pride, discipline and integrity, reminding them that qualifying for the national competitions was itself a major achievement.
He assured the participants that the county government would continue investing in programmes that nurture talent among young people.
The governor further announced that additional rewards would be presented to the top four best-performing schools in each discipline, while teams and individuals who emerge as overall national champions would receive special recognition from the county government.
He also appealed to teachers, coaches and officials accompanying the learners to prioritise their safety, welfare and discipline throughout the competition period.
By Joan Kinuthia
