Mayoni Township Soccer Boys and Mwira Soccer Girls from Matungu Sub-County, Kakamega County, are among the school teams set to represent Kenya in the upcoming Federation of East African Primary School Games. The event kicks off this Friday in Kakamega County.
Both teams are already in camp at Musingu High School, fine-tuning their preparations ahead of the regional competition. Notably, Mwira Girls are the defending champions, having clinched the title last year in Uganda.
However, as the tournament approaches, school heads from Mwira and Mayoni have raised concerns over inadequate support from the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders.
Mr. John Otieno, Headteacher of Mwira Comprehensive School and the team’s patron, expressed frustration over the financial burden placed on the school.
“We have spent heavily preparing the girls for this championship, yet we see no returns. As a school, we have resolved to withdraw from future competitions due to the high costs involved,” he said.
“Last year, we won the East African title in Uganda and received only a trophy, no financial reward, despite the huge expenses in talent development. Sometimes, I’ve even sold personal assets to support the team. How do we defend a trophy without any monetary recognition?” he lamented.
Mr. Otieno also criticised the strict camp policies at Musingu, which restrict access to the players, leaving only the coaches to interact with them.
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“These girls come from underprivileged backgrounds and thrive on motivation from their teachers and peers. Yet, even I, as their headteacher, struggle to visit them daily due to transport costs.”
He further questioned why Ministry of Education officials receive hefty allowances while the teachers and schools that nurtured the teams are overlooked.
“This demoralises us. Competitions are meant for talent development, but the financial strain is unsustainable.”
Meanwhile, Kakamega County Governor Hon. Fernandez Barasa has faced criticism for neglecting the two local teams while supporting established schools like Butere Girls and Musingu High.
“Butere Girls and Musingu have powerful sponsors and alumni. But what about local schools like ours? The governor knows we are national champions, yet our efforts to reach him have been futile,” said Mr. Otieno.
He commended Mr. Leonard Muganda, Principal of St. Maurice Mwira Senior School, for his consistent support. “He provides transport and even a stipend for our coach. That’s why we’ve resolved that our girls will join Mwira Secondary next year—not Butere Girls. We stand by those who stand by us.”
Mr. Otieno urged leaders to stop favouring elite institutions and instead support grassroots talent. “ in Kenya’s Kakamega for recognition continues.
By Victor Ngecho
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