Bomet County is playing host to 14 counties for the Kenya Primary School Sports Association (KPSSA) athletics competition. The three-day event aimed at preparing young athletes for the regional games set to begin on April 25 at Bomet IAAF Stadium.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bomet Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (KEPSHA) Chairperson, Nathan Langat emphasized the need for unity among teachers, unions, businesses, and students to ensure the event’s success saying enough has been done to see the event succeed.
“We have done everything possible to accommodate all the teams. As a county, we are fully prepared to host different events at our well-prepared venues of Longisa, Mulot, and the Bomet IAAF grounds,” Langat stated.
Some of the activities expected at the competition include long jump, javelin, discus, shot put, triple jump, and pole vault. Langat encouraged local teams to perform well and make the county proud while urging businesses to take advantage of the event to boost their earnings.
“This is a great opportunity for the business community to earn from the visitors. Let us work together to make this event a success by maintaining our culture of peace,” he added.
The event was also used as a platform for teachers’ unions to voice concerns about the welfare of educators, particularly regarding the health care of teachers in Bomet as they host such an event.
Bomet Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary Paul Kimetto expressed frustration over teachers’ mistreatment by health insurance companies.
He claimed that teachers were being denied medical services at Tenwek Hospital despite their salaries being deducted to pay for the insurance.
“It is unacceptable that our teachers are turned away by Tenwek Hospital despite paying for health insurance. This issue has persisted for too long and it should be sorted soon,” Kimetto stated.
He warned that KUPPET would take further action if the insurance companies do not resolve the issue by Monday next week, stating that it’s a challenge for teachers to host such field events when their medical cover is unguaranteed.
Kimetto also called on Tenwek Hospital to continue serving teachers despite an outstanding debt of Sh160 million, describing the denial of treatment as discriminatory.
“Tenwek Hospital has always been known for offering excellent services. It is unfair that teachers are now being denied treatment because of unpaid dues,” he noted.
Kimetto further urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to declare Chepalungu Sub-County a hardship area. He referred to a recent case of a junior secondary school student who was attacked and killed by a crocodile along the Nyongores-Omalo River.
Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary, Desmond Langat echoed this sentiment stating that teachers and students in the area face serious risks.
“We cannot ignore the dangers that teachers and students are facing in these regions. We call on the government to gazette Chepalungu, Bomet East, and Sotik as hardship areas,” Desmond said.
He also criticized the lack of support from education officers following the recent tragedy in Nogirwet, where a 16-year-old boy was killed by a crocodile.
“It was shocking to see that no education official mourned with the family of the deceased. These are our students, and their safety should be a priority,” he lamented.
Desmond urged the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to compensate the affected family and called on the Narok County Government to step in, given that the river falls under the Mara Conservancy.
“KWS must act fast and compensate the family of the deceased. The Narok County Government should also visit the family and provide support,” he stated.
Bomet is hosting the KPSSA event for the second time after successfully organizing the Rift Valley Secondary Schools Games last year.
The event presents both a sporting and economic opportunity for the region, but the concerns raised by teachers’ highlight pressing issues that need urgent attention.
By Nickson Terer
