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COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KIAMBU

THE FOURTH KICOSCA GAMES AUGUST 14-20, 2016

Theme: Enhancing Peace, Co-Existence and National Diversity

Let’s play, bond and raise Kiambu’s sporting profile STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KIAMBU, H.E WILLIAM KABOGO

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n behalf of the Government and people of Kiambu County, it gives me great pleasure to welcome all participants to the 4th Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association (KICOSCA) games, which are taking place in Kiambu County.

This event speaks for the commitment that we all hold for sports. I am sure we will witness athletic performances of the highest quality over the course of this championship. Do your best and compete in the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play, and take the opportunity to bond with each other.

Certainly, each of you will pit your skills and talents against your opponents from other teams. This notwithstanding, I encourage you to also make the most of the wonderful opportunity to showcase your spirit of comradeship.

I thank the KICOSCA organising committee

William Kabogo, Governor, County Government of Kiambu for their outstanding work in making this event possible. I also give special praise and congratulations to the sports staff who

have exposed you to rigorous practice sessions. Their efforts have contributed to raising the overall standard of the KICOSCA competitions and building stamina.

Few will dispute that sports make you strong and healthy, and teach us to accept defeat and celebrate victory. These lessons later become building blocks of success in life.

As we start the KICOSCA games, we are focusing on building excitement in the community and encouraging people to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship by showing their support for the competing athletes. In the coming days, we are going to see some very exhilarating moments. I encourage everyone to enjoy it. Fun and excitement are guaranteed.

Indeed, the annual sports meet will play a significant role in raising Kiambu County sporting profile. May the County of Kiambu go from strength to strength as we establish an outstanding sporting community that we all can be proud of.

Thank you and good luck!

Chance to promote cohesion and sports talent STATEMENT BY MACHEL WAIKENDA, CEC MEMBER FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS, SPORTS AND COMMUNICATION IN KIAMBU COUNTY

Machel Waikenda, CEC, Member for Youth Affairs, Sports and Communication

Marie Mugo, Chief Officer, Youth Affairs, Sports and Communication

It gives me great joy to welcome you to the 4th Edition of the KICOSCA/CASA games. We are honoured and privileged to be hosting this edition in Kiambu County.

It is a perfect opportunity for counties to come together to showcase their sporting talent and at the same time build cohesion.

As a county government, we are committed to developing talent and improving sports infrastructure, with the goal of transforming lives and empowering residents. Kiambu is a great destination for sports, and we intend to support such tournaments so as to develop talent in the county.

We expect over 20,000 staff from the 47 counties in Kiambu starting today. The thrilling sports and entertainment week brings together participants

in football, table tennis, darts, athletics, volleyball, badminton, tug-of-war, netball, ajua, squash, pool, basketball, set piece, borrowed songs and traditional dance.

This event goes to show the commitment by the participating counties to uphold diversity To all participants and visitors, welcome to Kiambu County. To all Kiambu residents, let’s take advantage of this opportunity by visiting the different sporting facilities in Thika to learn a new sport.

The youth in business should also take advantage of this chance to market their products and services to all of the participants.

To #TeamKiambu, let’s make the County proud.

Thank you and God bless you all.

MESSAGE FROM MARIE MUGO CHIEF OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AFFAIRS, SPORTS AND COMMUNICATION, KIAMBU COUNTY

The construction of Ruiru Stadium, to be named William Ruto Stadium, is on course. At Kirigiti Stadium, we are constructing a state-of-the-art amphitheatre. We are currently rehabilitating 60 playgrounds in our One Field Per Ward project.

Since devolution, the department has promoted different sports in Kiambu County, including soccer (Kiambu Championship Cup), volleyball, basketball, skating, canoeing, athletics, tae-kwon-doo, among others.

As a county, we remain guided by our core values, vision and mission, all which narrow around empowering the youth and women in different ways. We are led by our visionary Governor, H.E William Kabogo, who is working tirelessly towards making Kiambu County the place to live, work, invest and grow.

The opportunity to have Kiambu County host the KICOSCA and CASA games 2016 is a clear reflection of our steadfast commitment towards improving sporting activities in the county.

Our government, through the Department of Youth Affairs, Sports and Communication, has been keen on improving different stadia and playgrounds all over the county.

The rehabilitation and upgrading of Thika Stadium is already complete. The department is working on increasing the sitting area in the stadium so that it can accommodate more people.

Event an opportunity to improve relations

MESSAGE FROM THE KIAMBU COUNTY ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HON. GATHII IRUNGU, MCA Indeed it is my great honour and privilege to welcome all County Governments to Kiambu County for the fourth edition of the Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association and the County Assemblies Sports Association (KICOSCA/CASA). After successfully winning the bid to host the games, our County Government, and more so the County Assembly, is well prepared and eager to not only host these games at the Thika Stadium, but to also host all the participants in the great Kiambu County.

These games have been geared towards promoting and sustaining sports and cultural activities among counties. Additionally, these games have brought together Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and staff of County Governments from across the country to showcase their talents in different disciplines, as well as foster good relations. The interaction will give the MCAs an opportunity to bond and share ideas on how to advance the legislative agenda in their various Governments based on their experience thus far.

Kiambu County has a lot to offer in terms of learning experiences. The County Assembly has so far has been able to legislate on matters concerning the promotion of education, through the Education Bursary Fund law; promoting enterprise activities of youth, women and persons living with disabilities through what we commonly refer to as the ‘Biashara Fund’ law; regulation of abattoirs across the county through the Abattoirs Act; regulation of health services in the county through the Health Services Act, among other pieces of legislation geared towards realising the objectives of devolution.

In embracing this year’s KICOSCA theme of “Enhancing Peace, Co-existence and National Diversity”, we are looking forward to a time where through these games, the participants coming from different parts of this country will be able to epitomise and portray a united front in the midst of great diversity even as we usher in an election year.

I therefore wish to invite all our guests to explore the great learning opportunities that our great county has to offer and at the same time exchange ideas on how we can all grow and advance the devolution agenda.

This year, we are privileged to have the largest number of counties that confirmed their participation in the games, presenting a vast number of participants and guests to interact with and learn from.

With that, you are all warmly welcome to Kiambu County for the KICOSCA/CASA games, which I believe will promote healthy competition among us and at the same time enhance relations. I wish you the best in the all the games. Karibuni sana!

COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KIAMBU

THE FOURTH KICOSCA GAMES AUGUST 14-20, 2016

Theme: Enhancing Peace, Co-Existence and National Diversity KICOSCA and CASA brief After the local authorities were dissolved in 2013, the Kenya Inter-Municipalities Sports and Cultural Association (KIMSCA) Games transformed into Kenya Inter-Counties Sports and Cultural Association (KICOSCA) Games.

OBJECTIVITIES KICOSCA Games aims at promoting social and cultural interactions among employees of the county governments through sports and cultural activities. It also provides a platform where members of different counties share experiences.

VISION To promote and sustain sports and cultural activities in the Counties and in the region.

GOVERNANCE The association is run through the National Governing Council, National Executive Committee and various Subcommittees.

Elections were held in May 2016 and a new committee was elected. It is headed by Mr Samson Chagwony as the National Chairman, Mr Muraya Kabiri as the National Secretary and Lucy Kimiti as the National Treasurer, among other officials.

KICOSCA/CASA MEMBERSHIP MERGER KICOSCA Games provides a forum for permanent employees, while the County Assembly CASA does the same for the staff and the elected members in the County Assemblies. During the 2nd Edition of the games in Nakuru, the two associations entered into an MoU to run the games concurrently in August every year.

So far, 32 counties are members of the merged KICOSCA/CASA Games. This year, about 41 counties will participate, as well as Parliament of Kenya (The Senate). This is a record number of county participation since the start of the games.

DISCIPLINES There are 12 sports disciplines. These are Football, Volleyball, Netball, Tug-of-War, Basketball, Pool, Darts, Table Tennis, Ajua, Draughts, Badminton and Athletics. There will also be Cultural Dances and Choirs. In addition, MCAs will participate in a honorary fashion show sponsored by CASA Deputy Secretary General.

The games will be held in different venues, but the main ones will be hosted at Thika Stadium, Mang’u High School, Thika Technical, Chania High School, Thika High School, Community Hall, Gretsa University and St Patrick’s School.

EAST AFRICA LOCAL AUTHORITIES SPORTS AND CULTURAL ASSOCIATION GAMES KICOSCA/ CASA games are further affiliated to the East Africa Local Authorities Sports and Cultural Association (EALASCA) Games that are held on a rotational basis within the East Africa Community.

Rwanda hosted the 7th Edition of the games last year. Kenya will host the 8th Edition in Kiambu in November this year, becoming the first county to do so. The Kenyan team will be selected during the KICOSCA/CASA Games in Thika.

PROGRAMME FOR THE 4TH EDITION OF THE GAMES • Participating teams will arrive in Thika on Sunday, August 14, 2016.

• H.E William Kabogo, Governor Kiambu County, will preside over the official opening ceremony on Monday, August 15, 2016 at Thika Stadium from 1pm.

• The matches will kick off at 4pm at the same venue.

Ball games will continue at various venues up to Thursday, August 18, 2016.

• Cultural Dances, Folksongs and Choirs will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at Mang’u High School.

Athletics will run from Friday to Saturday morning at Thika Stadium.

• The official closing ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at Thika Stadium at 1pm.

Why Kiambu won bid to host KICOSCA and CASA games After placing and winning the hosting bid for the Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association and County Assemblies Sports Association (KICOSCA/CASA) games, Kiambu County is now ready for the games, which start today in Thika and end on Saturday, August 20, 2016.

The major reason that made Kiambu County to win this year’s bid are the high quality infrastructure it possesses, easy accessibility to venues and hotels due to their centrality, availability of technical personnel, adequate transport system, accessibility to health facilities, which include Thika level five hospital, presence of banks, and the multiple venues with standard fields and equipment.

These games bring together county government staff from all the 47 counties to battle it out in different disciplines.

About 20,000 workers and fans will mingle and exchange ideas of how to make and serve their counties better, while promoting national integration and cohesion.

This has been a blessing in disguise for Kiambu County, which is a hub of sporting talent, among them Denis Odhiambo, Michael Mutinda and Eugine Mukangula coming from Thika United football club, Kiambu All-Stars FC and representing Kenya Harambee Stars in many continental tournaments. Thus, the games are expected to not only motivate the staff but to also encourage young sportsmen and women to take up sports as a career.

This year’s games, which are running under the theme, “Enhancing Peace, Co-Existence and National Diversity”, will feature ajua, darts, table tennis, athletics, football, netball, tug-of-war (men and women), volley ball, badminton, pool, squash, basketball, set-piece and

Thika stadium, where 4th Edition of the KICOSCA/CASA games will be hosted. traditional dance, borrowed songs and cultural dances.

Some of these games will take place at the newly rehabilitated Thika Stadium, while Thika High School, Gretsa University, Liquid Cash, Chania Boys, Chania Girls, Thika Technical, Mang’u High and Mt Kenya University will host the rest of the games.

In relation to business, the County Government of Kiambu has laid down security mechanisms that will ensure registered traders are secure and are operating comfortably in and around the playing venues, as it is expected to have a vibrant trade due to the numbers of players and fans expected.

The Department of Youth Affairs, Sports and Communication, which is headed

by CEC Member Machel Waikenda and Chief Officer Marie Mugo, has been at the forefront in trying to ensure that youths in Kiambu County spend their time doing various activities that can change their lives.

Most of these activities have been inspired by sports programmes, such as sponsoring Kiambu All-Stars (county football team), Champions Cup (football) referees and coaches course, volleyball referees and coaches clinics, martial arts coaches course, skating mashinani, among other initiatives that additionally tilted the scales in favour of Kiambu County during the selection of the county

to host these games, by the National KICOSCA organising committee.

Other than sports, the department has been busy working day and night to ensure the youths in Kiambu County are empowered and become selfdependent through other programmes, such as youth talent search, nurturing and development, capacity building, mentorship, and agribusiness programmes, job centres with a CV Band and job placement systems, policy to allocate a third of county jobs to youths, Kiambu youth newspaper, 30 percent procurement policy.

One of H.E Governor William Kabogo’s Campaign slogan was to empower the youths through sports and to transform them from “hustlers” to self-dependent members of the society. Thus, he initiated the Kiambu Biashara Fund. This is a revolving fund that is given to youths, women, groups and persons living with disability under the Department of Youth Affairs, Sports and Communication.

Kiambu County is urbanising very fast and HE the Governor is intiating economic growth development transformations necessary to support it and enhance the quality of urban life. This is to address the unemployment among the youth in Kiambu by promoting self-employment through focus on job creation.

Kiambu County Youth Sports CEC Machel Waikenda issues offer letters and assets to successful beneficiaries of the Kiambu Biashara Fund at the Kiambu County Headquarters.