Education stakeholders and chess officials have welcomed the Ministry of Education’s decision to include chess in the Term Two co-curricular competitions, saying the move will increase participation and expand opportunities for learners across the country.
The officials spoke at Kitale National Polytechnic during the Trans Nzoia County Regional Chess Qualifiers, where 800 learners competed for places at the Kenya National Schools Chess Championships to be held at Alliance High School.
The county qualifiers ran alongside the annual Kitale Open Chess Tournament, which attracted about 60 players from South Sudan, Uganda and Kenyan towns, including Nairobi, Kisumu and Kakamega. The arrangement gave learners an opportunity to compete against experienced players and sharpen their skills ahead of the national championships.
Trans Nzoia Chess Association Chairman Eseme Etiang said the Ministry’s recognition of chess as an official school co-curricular activity will encourage more schools to embrace the game and attract more learners to the sport.
“The Ministry of Education’s decision to introduce chess in public schools will greatly boost participation. Even schools without proper equipment are improvising chessboards because learners are eager to play, showing the growing passion for the game,” said Etiang.
Etiang said staging the county qualifiers alongside the Kitale Open Chess Tournament will continue to improve competition standards by exposing learners to stronger opponents.
“This year’s Kitale Open Chess Tournament has attracted experienced players from South Sudan, Uganda and several Kenyan towns, giving our learners an opportunity to compete against stronger opponents. That exposure is one of the reasons Trans Nzoia schools continue to excel at the national level,” he said.
He said schools including St. Monica, St. Patrick’s, Kitale School, St. Bridget’s and St. Anthony’s have consistently posted strong performances because of regular exposure to experienced players.
“We have about 800 students participating in today’s county qualifiers as they compete for the opportunity to represent Trans Nzoia at the National Schools Chess Championships at Alliance High School,” he added.
Trans Nzoia Chess Association official Frederick Odhiambo described the tournament as successful and credited the association’s leadership for smooth coordination.
“Today’s qualifiers have been a success. We have not experienced any major challenges, and I commend our chairman, Mr. Eseme, together with the entire Trans Nzoia Chess Association, for the excellent coordination that made this event possible,” said Odhiambo.
St. Patrick’s Makunga chess coach Daniel Wekesa Muluoto said Trans Nzoia’s continued success stems from sustained investment by coaches, schools and the county association.
“The fact that Trans Nzoia secured three qualification slots demonstrates how much chess has grown in our county. This achievement is a reflection of the tireless efforts of our coaches and the entire association. We are also proud that St. Monica has remained national chess champions for the last four years,” said Wekesa.
St. Monica’s Girls Secondary School teacher Nahum Mwende said the Ministry’s decision will encourage more girls to take up the sport.
“Girls are enjoying playing chess. Chess has grown in Trans Nzoia County under the leadership of the Trans Nzoia Chess Association, and we are working to ensure that more learners can access the facilities they need to play the game,” said Mwende.
Officials said the Ministry’s decision is expected to increase participation in chess nationwide while giving more learners an opportunity to develop critical thinking, concentration, discipline and problem-solving skills regardless of their school’s size or resources.
