County now opens bursaries to best sportsmen

Students from Makueni County who do well in sports are now eligible for scholarships, Governor Kivutha Kibwana has said.

Speaking when he received Makueni Rugby Team (Kiinga) that took part in Driftwood Sevens tournament in Mombasa County over the weekend, Prof Kibwana said that starting this September, his administration will start giving bursaries to needy students who excel in sports.

“We have been giving bursaries to bright students, those from poor backgrounds, as well as those with disabilities,” he said on Monday evening at a dinner with the players in Wote town.

“But now we shall include those who do well in sports among the beneficiaries,” he added.

The Makueni Rugby Team, that is comprised mainly of university students, floored, among other teams, Mount Kenya University 19:12 in the Division 2 finals to bag the Driftwood Sevens main cup.

PRAISED TEAM

Mr Paul Mutavi, the team’s coach attributed the weekend success that saw the team ascend to Division 1, to the team’s hard work and discipline.

In this year’s National Sevens Circuit, Kiinga has lost to Masaku Rugby Club at the Christies Sevens and to University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine at Dala Sevens two weeks ago.

The coach marvelled at the team’s performance at Driftwood Sevens saying: “When we started, we did not know we would get anywhere.”

Lauding the sportsmen for the sterling performance, Governor Kibwana called upon them to balance between sports and their studies “so as to be all rounded.”

Ms Rosemary Maundu, the Executive Committee Member in charge of sports at the county, assured of her government’s financial support to the rugby team.

In addition, she said that her department is planning to install sports fields in Wote, Kathonzweni and in Sultan Hamud townships with an intent of developing sports.

According to the team’s coach Mr Mutavi, Kiinga will play big rugby teams in the Prinsloo Sevens tournament in Nakuru Athletic Club this weekend.