Mombasa County is set to host the annual County Assembly Sport Association (CASA) games from next week.
The games, which were to be held in June this year, were shelved due Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, the games did not also take place due to the Covid situation.
CASA secretary general, Bernard Omboko, said all the counties are all set for the games and were working closely with with both the health and sports ministries to ensure the Covid-19 protocols are in place.
“When the Covid-19 vaccines arrived, all county assemblies, through the speakers and the clerks, were directed to ensure all MCAs are vaccinated and I believe this was done and we are all ready for the games,” said Omboko. He said so far 38 counties have confirmed participation compared to the last CASA games, which attracted 42.
“Registration starts this Friday and all participating counties are supposed to pay entry fee of Sh300,000,” he said. He said all participants will be required to provide the Covid-19 vaccination certificate upon arrival for the event.
Mombasa County Assembly deputy speaker, Fadhili Makarani, said most counties are not well prepared for the games because Covid-19 is still very much around.
“This activity has been postponed several times. It was supposed to happen in the last financial year, but was postponed to June 2021, and still did not happen due to the pandemic,” he said.
Makarani said: “Some counties are yet to pay the subscription fee. Participants have also not been fully vaccinated and there are no ways to check if everyone is fully vaccinated. This clearly shows counties are not prepared for these games."
Likoni MCA Athman Mwamiri, however, noted that they are ready for the games and that reservation for accommodation is ongoing.
“Mombasa County is one of the counties with the highest number of people who have been vaccinated, so we are ready for the event,” he said.
Mombasa County public health chief officer, Pauline Oginga, said they have been working with the County Assembly sports committee to ensure all plans are in place for the event. Oginga said county officials are required to ensure all participants undergo Covid-19 test.
She said the department will also use the opportunity to conduct mass vaccination in Mombasa. “We will take advantage of this event to conduct mass vaccination,” she said. The games will take placed for November 1-6 at Mbaraki Sports Club, Shanzu and Tononoka social hall.
