The annual Kenya music festivals Nzoia region level kicked off at St. Peters’ Mumias boys’ high school on Monday 3rd July 2016 with different schools both primary and secondary competing for a golden chance to represent the region at a later national level.
The theme for this years event was “Nurturing innovative competencies for economic prosperity”.
The organizers got sponsorship by the partnering of The Central Bank of Kenya and both the county and central governments who ensured the event is conducted in the most exciting manner.
The chairman Principals Association-Nzoia region who also doubled up as the host school principal, Mr. Godfrey Owuor was full of gratitude to teachers and parents for identifying the talents in their children and co-operating to send teams for the festival as at lower levels.
“We thank those who have participated as they have kept into consideration that co-curriculum activities is also part of school work and it builds talent” Owuor said.
He also used the opportunity to express his dissatisfaction in how the transfer of school head teachers from their schools is being done, citing the incidence of the Iteeirio secondary school.
Mr. Owour called upon all the key stakeholders in the ministry of education to work hand in hand to see that the level of discipline in schools goes improves.
Struggle to squeeze funds to facilitate extra curriculum activities
The extravaganza too did not go down without challenges and this was expressed by the Nzoia Region Secondary Schools’ music chairman, Benson Oranga who said that it has been a lot of struggle to squeeze funds out of the school kitty to facilitate the extra curriculum activities that exceeds funds allocated for such.
He used the opportunity to request the ministry of education to fund the event as they lacked enough funds to cater for all the schools.
He also pointed out that some schools failed to turn up since they lacked funds to facilitate them to the event and that does not augur well for the region at large.
Beefed up security
Being a social event attracting a large population, security was key and it was beefed up by the Mumias police department in line with the key stakeholders of the festival.
The OCPD Mumias police station ensured police officers were deployed to St. Peters’ high school and the surrounding environs to ensure that peace and order was maintained.
The OCPD added that there should be no cause of worry among parents, teachers and students as there were CCTV cameras in place to take footage of the Event.
To illustrate the effectiveness of the security system, two people who tried to steal 2 phones and other jewelry from the performers were caught even before leaving the compound.
The secondary schools competition came to an end on 6th Wednesday, July with different schools booking a chance to go to the galas before proceeding to the nationals.
The primary schools attracted vast categories with some of the schools turning up for the festival including the physically impaired.
Kabuchayi primary school for the deaf, located in Bungoma County gave an impressive dramatized dance and this amazed the audience.
Financial problems
The Nzoia region primary schools music chairman, said that unlike the secondary section, their side did face some financial problems but they could not stop the competition from proceeding.
However, he did request the government and sponsors to chip in some money into the kitty and help them build talent as they enrich the community.
New categories introduced
The new categories which were introduced this year included class 1027- News reading, class 1026- Paragraph reading for students in lower classes of primary school, Arabic public speaking and the central bank thematic songs and poems.
The schools that qualified are set to head to the nationals which will be held at Safaricom Kasarani Stadium.
A variety of students were impressed with the event, saying that they are glad they got a chance to display their talent and exchange different cultures.
They said they loved that there was enough security and they did not face any losses of their property.
Business people happy
Hawkers and business persons on the other hand thanked the government for bringing the event to this region. They did this as a result of the profits they enjoyed apart from the other days.
The business persons went home smiling with a bumper profit from the big turnout of both students and spectators who enjoyed the African delicacy from the Nzoia region that was at the event.
In a rejoinder, Bungoma county music festival chairman at primary level, Silvanus Tindi, hailed the organizers of the event including the ministry of education for their support.
He also appreciated the good work done by the music trainers in nurturing the young ones to become useful citizens in the country.