By Arnold Ageta
The Nyanza Regional Drama Festivals have kicked off today in Nyamira County as the town got painted yellow while the school buses made their way to the county.
The festivals, which are being held for the first time in the county, draw participating schools from Siaya, Homabay, Kisumu, Migori, Kisii, and the host Nyamira County.
Addressing the participants at Kebirigo Boys High School, West Mugirango Constituency MP Stephen Mogaka welcomed them to Nyamira County and the constituency this morning.
At the event, the MP took the opportunity to open the hall, which received a facelift through the support of the CDF. The renovated hall is currently being used for the drama festival.
“This is one of the monuments of milestones to demonstrate that we in West Mugirango mean what we say and say what we mean,” he said. “Going forward, we want to improve every infrastructure in every sector, including ball games and indoor facilities, so that one day we shall qualify to host the national tournaments right here in Nyamira town.”
He emphasized his objective to get the best out of teachers, instructors, and also the children in his constituency.
He applauded and congratulated the participating teams for qualifying for the regional festival and wished them the best to qualify for the national festival.
“To the qualifiers who have come to present their items here, I wish you the best of luck. Put your best foot forward, and I am tempted to look for a prize for the qualifiers,” he said amid cheers from the participants.
The MP challenged the organizers to raise the bar so that they develop students to feature in international movies.
“I can’t wait to see one of our children starring in Hollywood movies and other international movies that will be celebrated worldwide,” he said. “I, therefore, ask the participants to take this festival seriously. This is a God-given opportunity to become the very best you can.”
Kebirigo Boys is hosting the secondary drama festivals while the primary festivals are hosted at Senator Kebaso Secondary School.
Kebirigo Boys Principal, Clement Nyang’acha, appreciated the organizers of the event for choosing his school as the host of this year’s regional event.
“This is a great honor for us to host the event,” he said. “Since its establishment in 1969, the school has never hosted such a big event.”
The principal thanked the MP for helping the school renovate the hall, which was built in 1986.
“He has given this hall a great facelift befitting the standards that we are seeing here today so that we can host the regional drama event here,” he said.
Themed “Unlocking Opportunities for Socio-Economic Transformation through Drama and Film,” the regional event will end on Friday, and the winners will represent the Nyanza region in the national festival.
In the afternoon, Hon. Stephen Mogaka presided over the official opening ceremony of the primary drama festival at Senator Kebaso Secondary School.
He was accompanied by Lawrence Karuntimi, Regional Director of Education, Joshua Kaga, Nyamira County Director of Education, Catherine Mwenda, TSC Director Nyamira County, and Florence Obunga, Deputy County Commissioner, Nyamira South, who also represented the County Commissioner, among others.
The MP promised to walk with the participants up to the national festival. “I wish you a nice stay and may the best item win and show the world what we can present from the Nyanza region,” he concluded.
