The Term Two Kisumu County Secondary School Ball Games officially kicked off at Kisumu Boys High School, drawing enthusiastic crowds of students, teachers, and sports lovers at the lakeside city.
The event, which will run through the weekend, features six major sporting disciplines, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, netball, lawn tennis, and table tennis.
Other activities lined up are indoor games, such as chess and scrabble, will also be staged, offering a platform for individual talents to shine.
Speaking during the opening, Mr. George Osura, the Secretary for Sports in Kisumu County and a teacher at Onjiko Secondary School, emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity and fairness throughout the games.
He noted that extensive vetting had been carried out to ensure only eligible students take part in the competitions.
“This is a crucial event in our school calendar. We’ve worked hard to make sure only eligible students are participating. We did an online vetting exercise that lasted a week, and today we finalized it physically. Each school principal verified and took pictures with their students so that if there’s any complaint later, we’ll have evidence to sort out the matter easily,” he said.
The vetting process, he added, was aimed at eliminating age cheating and strengthening accountability in school sports.
He further lauded school principals for their cooperation in ensuring a transparent registration process.
More than 60 secondary schools from all sub-counties within Kisumu are participating in the tournament, with each institution fielding up to ten teams across different disciplines.
The first day saw an energetic start, with 16 soccer teams, including eight boys’ and eight girls’ teams, taking to the field.
Netball and volleyball matches also commenced, while basketball and tennis fixtures are set to begin on Thursday.
The atmosphere at Kisumu Boys High School was charged with excitement as students and teams arrived early, ready for the championships.
“The energy is incredible,” said Jane Oduor, a netball coach from Maseno School.
“You can see the hunger for excellence in these students; this is where future champions are made,” she said.
A major highlight of the games will be a showcase soccer match scheduled to take place at Moi Stadium later in the week, where top-performing teams will battle for county supremacy.
Osura noted that the games were not only about competition but also about nurturing holistic student development.
“This is more than just competition; it’s about talent, discipline, and teamwork,” he said.
The county’s sports department, together with the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), has partnered to ensure smooth coordination, with match officials, medics, and security personnel deployed across all venues.
As the games progress, winners from this stage will qualify for the regional championships, which are expected to draw even more attention as they serve as qualifiers for the national stage.
By Tracy Anyango and Sharon Binzari
