Machakos play host to national primary schools ball games
National ball games for Kenya primary schools continued for the second day at Machakos Teachers Training College after kick off on Friday following a two-year hiatus occasioned by the covid-19 pandemic.
Both boys and girls teams from eight regions, formerly known as provinces battled for trophies under cool weather after the competitions were officially opened by Kenya Primary Schools Sports Association Secretary General Mamai Etwang and Machakos County Deputy governor Francis Mwangangi.
The games run from the 9th to the 13th of September with winners expected to represent the country in the East African regional championship.
While observing that a high number of girls were reported to have been impregnated during the Covid -19 period when schools were closed, and no sporting activities to engage in, Mwangangi said his county government will partner with the education sector to improve education and sports.
A report from the Department of Children Services revealed that several school girls had fallen pregnant over the period in Machakos.
Mr Etwang said the high pregnancy rate could be attributed to lack of sporting activities as young people have excess energy which they divert to harmful activities if the energy is not harnessed productively.
Coronavirus pandemic
“We need to make sure that no talent is wasted. The report that girls got pregnant during the Coronavirus pandemic means that they diverted their energies to other activities since there were no sporting activities during that time,” said Etwang.
Etwang said participants in this year’s event were all below the age of 15 years.
The games include football, handball, volleyball and netball.
Meanwhile, deputy governor Mwangangi pledged to work closely with education stakeholders in the county to promote education standards in his county.
He urged parents in Machakos to play a responsible role in parenting and protecting minors from sexual exploitation.
He said cases of pregnancies in the region had increased during the period of Covid-19 and which showed that parents failed to take good care for taking care of their children.
