Kirinyaga: Kirinyaga County teachers traded chalk for jerseys last weekend in a first-of-its-kind sports day organized by Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Athletics Kenya (AK), and the Kirinyaga County Education Office, bringing together more than 260 educators in a spirited effort to promote fitness, mental health, and social bonding.
According to Kenya News Agency, the event, which drew teachers from Kirinyaga county and neighboring Nyeri, Embu, Muranga, and Kiambu counties, featured football, volleyball, athletics, and field events. AK Kirinyaga official David Miano described the turnout as overwhelming and noted that future events will be bigger. He added that teachers who attended will receive Athletics Kenya certificates, which will aid them in job interviews and enable them to apply the knowledge and experience gained in their teaching profession.
Kirinyaga KNUT Secretary Mwangi Kanaiyo said that the sports day comes after last year’s workshop organized in the county to discuss issues of mental health, adding that the challenge affects everyone. He urged all sectors to collaborate to address and reduce the burden of mental health challenges in the community. He further highlighted the need for government funding to sustain and expand the initiative, calling upon the government to support and fund such sports initiatives.
Mwaithe Kinyua, KUPPET Kirinyaga branch chairperson, emphasized that sports give teachers the chance to stretch, relieve stress, and reconnect with colleagues. Leaders present at the event praised the initiative as a much-needed intervention. Kenya seed chairperson Wangui Ngirici lauded the teachers’ commitment, noting that healthier educators translate into healthier learners.
The sports day came against the backdrop of rising mental health challenges in the region, including increasing cases of depression and suicide.