Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology is currently hosting eight hundred (800) Secondary School Students for practice. This is in preparation for the upcoming East Africa Secondary School games, which will be held in Uganda from 18^th August, 2024. On Monday, 12^th August, 2024, a team representing the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), led by the Western Region Director of Education, Mr. Jared Obiero, paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor-Prof. Solomon Shibairo, to brief him on the ongoing training. The delegates were accompanied by the Registrar (Planning, Research, and Innovation), Dr. Collins Matemba.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo, with KSSSA representatives and MMUST staff during the courtesy call at his office.

Notably, MMUST has been identified as a central point for the 2025 East Africa Secondary School games, which will be hosted in Kenya, Kakamega County. During the courtesy call, Mr. Obiero pointed out that there is a need for the University to start putting in place measures to ensure the success of these competitions. Prof. Shibairo assured the team that the MMUST grounds will be ready for the 2025 games. He stated that the Olympic-size swimming pool will be complete by then, and that the University will avail two (2) long Tennis courts, as well as modern Table Tennis tables.

Western Region Director of Education, Mr. Jared Obiero, gives his remarks during the courtesy call to the MMUST VC.

The East Africa Secondary School games attracts participants from Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan, and involves a wide range of sports including, rugby, football, handball, volleyball, basketball, hockey, tennis and athletics. The training at MMUST kicked off on Sunday, 11^th August, 2024 and will go up to Thursday, 15^th August, 2024. The students are set to depart for Uganda on Friday, 16^th August, 2024.

Secondary School students train at the MMUST basketball court.

Other members present during the courtesy call were; the KSSSA Eastern and Western Region Secretary Generals, Mr. Elijah Kiarie and Mr. Quinto Omusugu respectively. We thank KSSSA for selecting MMUST to be one of their training grounds for the 2024 games, and wish the Secondary school students all the best in the upcoming Uganda competitions!

By Wangari Wambugu 

Photos by Shiundu Masafu  and Steven Omondi