Schools head to Alliance as Bush tourney marks year 20

Teams eyeing successful runs in this year’s Term One Secondary School Games will get the chance to gauge their level of preparedness as Alliance High opens its gates over the weekend for the annual Bush tournament.

Over 300 teams will compete for titles across 15 disciplines as the event marks its 20th anniversary having been launched in 1998 as the Khaemba Cup in honour of the institution’s revered ex-principal and founder, Christopher Khaemba.

Taekwondo is the latest sport to be added to the tournament, with Rugby, Hockey, Basketball, Swimming, Handball, Volleyball, Badminton, Table tennis, Lawn tennis, Chess, Scrabble, Baseball and Netball titles also up for grabs.

Among the notable schools that have confirmed participation include former East African hockey champions Mangu High, basketball giants Laiser Hill, the Kenya High School, Moi High School-Kabarak, Thika High and Nairobi School.

Event head George Mahinda Kinyajui told Citizen Digital they expect over 320 teams to participate, an increase from the 246 who graced last year’s edition.

“It is a policy in our school that students participate in games to the highest level possible. In December last year 2017 three boys travelled to India for a chess tournament and in 2010 two boys travelled to the UAE and South Africa for swimming competitions.

“Sports enable students to remain focused and disciplined in their academic work. It is our way of life,” Mahinda said.

The tournament is slated for January 27-28.

-Aaron Muthomi for Citizen Digital