Kenya Youth Intercounty Sports Association (KYISA) competitions have kicked off at the Kirubia stadium in Tharaka Nithi County, scheduled to take place for one week.
The tournament is hosting players, referees and coaches from 37 counties.
Speaking during the official launch of the games, Sports CS Ababu Namwamba said that the games are meant to discover and nurture youths’ talents at the grassroots.
“We are going to ensure that the agenda of the National Government is accomplished by ensuring that the youth talents are discovered and nurtured from the lower levels,” he said.
The CS revealed that the tournament theme dubbed, “Talanta Hela” for the KYISA Games 8th edition is an accomplishment of the national government to support talents through sports, music and arts.
He further added that the aim of Talanta Hela is to monetize sports and talents in order to support youths’ skills at ground level.
Namwamba highlighted that after the games Kirubia stadium will be upgraded to even better standards before its official opening by the President.
“Facilities will be upgraded after the games including the seats and changing rooms. The stadium will later be opened by President Dr. William Ruto after it has been upgraded,” he said.
Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki said that the games are focused on nurturing and encouraging talents in young people between the ages of 18 to 23 to boost their skills.
“This new strategy will enable the government nurture youths with different abilities and talents from the villages,” he said
The Governor noted that the county is hosting the KYISA games for the first time and assured that there is enough security all over the region.
Sports Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke said a lot of effort has been put in place to ensure that the stadium is up to the standards required to host the KYISA games.
“This shows unity in the country because people of different ethnic backgrounds come together for these competitions,” he said.
By Beatrice Mwende and Sharon Gitau
