Music fete kicks off on high note

The Kenya Schools and Colleges National Music Festival started on a high note, with many teams from all over the country participating at Masinde Muliro University and Kakamega High School.

At 6.30am on Monday, the university’s parking area was filled with school buses, showing the enthusiasm the participants had after being delayed by the referendum on the new constitution.

Two hundred police officers were sent to the venues and accommodation villages.

The performances started well with the Primary Schools English Solo Verse for the Hearing Impaired — Sign Language category. Each of the participants presented the set poem “I will Love my Country”, written by Henry Indangasi.

Those who performed were Timina Barasa from St Anthony’s Primary School, Patrick Mule from Kitui School for the Deaf, Njira Ngazi from Kwale School for the Deaf, Ramadhani Beja from Ziwani School for the Deaf and Jackline Akeyo from Kuja School for the Deaf.

Others were Sellah Osindikho from Mwikhomo School for the Deaf, Lawrence Onyango from Olwa Unit for the Deaf, Brian Jumba from Mumias School for the Deaf, Nyamai Wambua from Machakos School for the Deaf, Samuel Lenjo from Kibarani and Wamaitha Waithera from Kambui.

The students internalised the poem and were able to bring out its mood, much to the delight of the audience, including adjudicators of the sign language, Dr Peter Orach and Christine Obuhatsa of Nairobi.

Clinched top position

Ramadhani Beja emerged the winner, followed by Samuel Sellah Osindikho and Samuel Benjo in third place.

The Choral Verse Sign Language category, in which a group of 25 pupils from each school performed together, was also very competitive.
Jacaranda Special School, whose performance drew applause from music lovers, clinched top position.

The performers were able to drive home the message of the poem through the use of appropriate body language.

Other schools that performed include Kibarani, Kwale and Ziwani.

At the main performance hall at the university, where the opening was held, singing games for nursery schools took centre stage. The category had a record of 18 entries.

The children showcased what they like doing best at the national stage.

Among those that carried the day were Kangundo DEB Primary School, Kags Joy Primary School from Coast, Rift Valley’s Gilgil Hills and Dr Arthur Nursery School.

Others were Sony Sugar, Blessed Virgin, Kids Star from Nyanza, Simba Day Nursery from Nairobi and Booker Academy from Western.

Adjudicator Nicholas ole Moipei commended the young children for their good performances.

During the official opening on Monday, the Western provincial director of Education, Mr K.K. Misoi, thanked the Mumias Sugar Company and Vision 2030 for sponsoring the national festival.