Education stakeholders have urged parents and communities to ensure learners are kept actively engaged during the long school holidays to avoid unnecessary incidents.
They challenged parents and guardians of learners from different backgrounds to explore ways of coming together to nurture talent through sports and games instead of allowing children to participate in activities that are not beneficial to them.
They cited skating, cycling, swimming, chess and martial arts as some of the activities available to children enjoying the long holiday break, noting that any opportunity to discover their abilities, make friends and develop skills beyond the classroom is important.
Speaking at Kinoru Stadium in Meru town, Seal Elite Fitness and Martial Arts Centre (SEFMAC) director Alex Naibei said the initiative is meant to give children from humble backgrounds, including those living in children's homes, an alternative for recreation and talent development that is accessible to all, regardless of family circumstances.
The director said the project was designed to give children a productive way to spend their holiday while helping them identify and nurture their abilities at an early age.
“Every child has a talent, every talent deserves nurturing, and every child deserves an opportunity to shine. Children hailing from humble homesteads were offered free opportunities to participate in the activities. Economic status should not prevent them from enjoying recreational activities or exploring their potential,” said Naibei.
He said every child deserves an opportunity to play, explore their abilities, make friends and experience happiness, regardless of their background or financial circumstances.
Sports festival promotes talent development
Beyond entertainment, the festival sought to address concerns about children spending extended school holidays without structured activities, while highlighting the role of sports and creative pursuits in building confidence, discipline and social skills.
The event featured bouncing castles, mega slides, swimming pools with boats, trampolines, skating, bicycle riding, face painting, basketball, chess, table tennis, darts and virtual reality games.
While some children tested their balance on skates and bicycles, others engaged in board games and ball sports, exposing them to a variety of physical and mental activities.
Naibei said introducing children to different disciplines early could help them discover their interests while developing coordination, creativity and self-confidence.
He added that the initiative was also intended to encourage parents, schools and communities to look beyond academic performance and recognise the importance of nurturing practical abilities.
The approach, he said, complements the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which emphasises identifying and developing learners' abilities through practical and experiential learning.
Child participant Faith Kendi said practical activities provided an opportunity for learners to explore their interests outside the classroom.
Parent Victor Kimathi welcomed the initiative, noting that access to sporting facilities, equipment and organised extracurricular activities remained a challenge for some families.
He said exposing children to different activities could help them discover interests they might otherwise never have had an opportunity to explore.
Naibei said SEFMAC planned to continue organising the festival and called on parents to allow their children to participate in sporting and recreational activities that could help them develop their talents.
He said the organisation hoped to expand its reach through partnerships with schools, parents, children's homes, sponsors, corporate organisations and government institutions.
“The ambition is to extend the programmes beyond Meru County and reach more children across the country,” he said.
However, Naibei noted that sustaining such opportunities would require continued collaboration to make talent development accessible beyond occasional events.
For children from vulnerable households, the cost of equipment, training and participation can limit opportunities to pursue their interests, he said, adding that inclusive programmes could help bridge the gap.
He said providing affordable opportunities for children to participate in sports and creative activities could enable more learners to discover their abilities and develop skills that may benefit them in the future.
The festival highlighted the need for parents and communities to use school holidays not only as a period of rest but also as an opportunity for children to learn, socialise and discover talents that may not emerge in the classroom.
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