The venue for tomorrow’s Western region secondary school games has been moved to new locations over suspected security fears.
The venue was hurriedly moved from Kakamega School to St. Ignatius Mukumu Boys on Monday for the safety of teams and officials against the wishes of Green Commando fans who were upset by the dismissal of an appeal to reinstate their team back to the regional football finals.
Until Monday morning, Kakamega school was the regional ballgames village. Dismissal of the school’s appeal to disqualify Musingu High, who beat them in the semis on post-match penalties at the county games, stirred the sudden shift of venues.
Musingu is said to have fielded a student from a School in Kisii and won the semifinal match against Kakamega School in Kakamega County.
Winners at the semis gained automatic entry to the regional games. The KESSA sanction for that offence is disqualification and a two-year school ban from the action. The ten-day verdict had been delayed and charged up the Kakamega School football fans.
A letter dated July 17th and signed by Theresa Sopngwa for the regional director of education J.O Obero, addressed to the principal of Mukumu Boys Silvester Ashioya, directed that the school avails its pitches for soccer, volleyball, and basketball matches to run between July 19-2nd.
The letter made no mention of Kakamega School, which was earmarked to host the Kakamega County, western region, and the National term two ball and racket games but the shift of venue could be linked to fears of a ruling dismissing Kakamega School’s appeal against Musingu High had upset the Green Commandos fans base and bred hostility against organizers.
It’s also reported that three other venues have been identified for the three-day sports fiesta, including Masinde Muliro University, Kakamega’s Approved School, and Bukhungu Stadium.
“Following a consultative meeting today(Tuesday), it has been decided that teams should converge in Kakamega town by 10 am Wednesday for the opening ceremony at Bukhungu stadium later in the afternoon, ” read Songwa.
Bukhungu Stadium and Kakamega Approved School will host boys’ soccer matches.
Mukumu boys will stage girls’ legal, volleyball, and Basketball.
The ASK Moi showground-“The Bull Ring”, will host rugby 7s matches. Mmust will host indoor games; Badminton, Table Tennis, Lawn tennis, and handball.
Matende girls secondary has been retained as the girls’ hostel from participants, while Kakamega township day secondary will shelter Boys.
Douglas Dindi
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