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Seme to host Kisumu special needs primary games amid push for inclusion
02nd March, 2026 01:17 AM
Learners with special needs from across Kisumu County will gather in Seme Sub-County later this month for the 2026 first-term special needs primary school games, an event expected to highlight both progress and persistent gaps in disability inclusion.
The games will be held at Bar Korwa Complex from 28 to 29 March. Teams are expected to arrive on 27 March and depart on 30 March.
The competitions will bring together children with physical, visual, hearing and intellectual impairments, as well as those living with autism, deafblindness and cerebral palsy. Adapted athletics and indoor games have been scheduled to enable participation across different ability levels.
For many learners, such events provide rare opportunities to compete in environments designed to accommodate their needs. Teachers say specialised games help build confidence, social skills and self-expression among children who often face stigma in their communities.
County Secretary George Oduka, who spoke during a sensitisation clinic for teachers and coaches, said the focus of the games is participation and enjoyment rather than medals.
“Special needs games are not about winning or losing but about participation and enjoyment. We want society to understand that every learner has the ability and deserves equal opportunity,” he said.
Despite the planned activities, parents and education stakeholders acknowledge that inclusion remains uneven across the county. Some schools lack adapted sporting equipment, while others struggle with accessible infrastructure, limiting regular participation outside annual events.
Education officials say efforts are underway to improve facilities gradually, though timelines and funding details were not disclosed.
Organisers have planned an awareness walk in Kombewa ahead of the official opening to encourage community conversations around disability and inclusion. Additional disciplines such as darts, swimming, chess and scrabble have been included to widen participation.
The event is supported by the Ministry of Education (Kenya) and the Teachers Service Commission.
Kenya Primary Special Schools Sports Association county chairperson Rosemary Omondi said the competitions also give teachers exposure to adapted sporting techniques that can be applied in schools throughout the year.
Parents are expected to attend, with organisers indicating that safety and medical preparedness plans are in place during the two day event.
While the games offer a platform for talent development and visibility, advocates note that sustained inclusion will depend on long term investment in training, facilities and community awareness beyond annual competitions.
