Kisumu County Assembly has finished second overall in the seventh edition of the County Assembly Sports Association (CASA) Games, which brought together representatives from all 47 county assemblies.
The host county won eight trophies across various sporting and cultural disciplines, with Bungoma County Assembly emerging overall champions.
Kisumu’s men’s football team finished runners-up after losing 1-0 to Trans Nzoia County Assembly in the final played at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo.
The county’s women’s tug-of-war team also finished second after losing a closely contested final, while its netball team secured third place.
Kisumu also excelled in cultural and indoor competitions. Its choir won the own-composition category and finished second in the set-piece category. The county’s ajua team emerged champions, while its draughts team finished third.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Elisha Oraro described the games as a success and thanked the organisers, participants, partners and residents for helping to host the event.
“We are very happy to have hosted these games and I thank everyone for playing their part to ensure their success,” he said.
County Assembly Clerk Nashon Kusina congratulated the Kisumu team, saying its performance had improved significantly.
“Our performance in these games has greatly improved. I wish to thank our players who represented us in various disciplines for their resilience and hard work. They have made us proud,” he said.
Kusina said the assembly was proud to have hosted the competition and looked forward to participating in future editions.
The week-long games ran from October 25 to 31, bringing together county assembly members and staff for sporting competitions, cultural exchange and networking.
The event featured football, handball, volleyball, netball, golf, badminton, board games and para-volleyball, as well as cultural performances and an eating competition.
Competitions were held at various venues across Kisumu, including Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, Kisumu National Polytechnic, Kenyatta Sports Ground, Aga Khan Hall and Kisumu Golf Club.
The event was held under the theme, “Beyond Competition: Forging Lasting Bonds through Sports and Culture.”
About 2,000 county assembly members travelled to Kisumu, while the total number of participants and visitors was projected to reach 10,000.
Earlier, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o said the CASA Games had evolved from joint sporting activities organised under the Kenya Counties Sports Association (KICOSCA) into an independent platform for county assemblies.
He said the development provided an opportunity for elected leaders and assembly staff to interact outside the chambers, strengthen relationships and share experiences on the challenges facing devolution.
“Sport brings people together, and as you compete, exchange ideas and build friendships, I encourage you to use this occasion to compare experiences, share solutions and deepen your commitment to serving the people who elected you,” Nyong’o said.
The governor also highlighted the economic benefits of hosting the games, saying local traders, hoteliers, restaurant owners, boda boda operators, transport providers, food vendors and small businesses stood to benefit.
“We want this activity to translate into real income, stronger enterprises and lasting opportunities for our people. We are not just hosting events; we are marketing Kisumu as a place to visit, invest in and do business,” he said.
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