Kirinyaga County teachers traded chalk for jerseys last weekend in a first-of-its-kind sports day organized by Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Athletics Kenya (AK) and the Kirinyaga County Education Office, bringing together more than 260 educators in a spirited effort to promote fitness, mental health and social bonding.
The event, which drew teachers from Kirinyaga county and neighboring Nyeri, Embu, Muranga and Kiambu counties featured football, volleyball, athletics, and field events.
AK Kirinyaga official David Miano described the turnout as overwhelming, noting that the future event will be bigger. He added that teachers who attended will receive Athletics Kenya certificates which will help them in job interviews and also enable them to apply the knowledge and experience gained in their teaching profession.
“If this year more than 200 teachers have registered, then we expect that next year the number could even triple or quadruple, judging from the commitment and energy we have witnessed today,” Miano noted.
Kirinyaga KNUT Secretary Mwangi Kanaiyo said the sports comes after last year’s workshop organized in the county to discuss issues of mental health, adding the challenge affects everyone. He urged all sectors to come together and collaborate to address and reduce the burden of mental health challenges in the community.
He further highlighted the need for government funding to sustain and expand the initiative.
“We therefore call upon the government to support and fund such sports initiatives. This way even as we transition from youth into old age, we will still have opportunities to participate and remain active. With government support, more people will be able to come together and benefit from such activities,” he said.
Mwaithe Kinyua, KUPPET Kirinyaga branch chairperson, said sports give teachers the chance to stretch, relieve stress, and reconnect with colleagues.
“When someone comes to a place like this, we get a chance to interact with our colleagues. When you enter into the race or engage in football, those thoughts that were weighing you down in your mind disappear.”
Leaders present at the event praised the initiative as a much-needed intervention. Kenya seed chairperson Wangui Ngirici lauded the teachers’ commitment saying healthier educators translate into healthier learners.
“Once our teachers are healthy, our children will be healthy too. Instead of people wasting away in destructive habits like drinking or gossip, here we are getting fit, sharing ideas, and creating positive energy,” she said.
The sports day came against the backdrop of rising mental health challenges in the region including increasing cases of depression and suicide.
By Mutai Kipngetich
