CASA games kick off in Kisumu City 

The 2026 County Assemblies Sports Association (CASA) Games, kicked off with pomp and colour, Monday, bringing the Lakeside City of Kisumu to a standstill.

The Kisumu-Kakamega highway was brought to a standstill, Monday, as members of county assemblies from across the country, joined a procession towards Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu, for the official opening of the 2026 County Assemblies Sports Association (CASA) Games, running from October 25 to 31.

The Stadium grounds were awash with colour, with some County flags already hoisted across the field, while others were held high by delegates marching towards the venue.

Banners bearing the names of county governments and event partners added to the spectacle as the different delegations made their way into the stadium.

Each team was welcomed with popular songs associated with its home county, with the music reflecting the diverse cultural identities represented at the event.

The celebrations embodied this year’s theme, “Beyond Competition: Forging Lasting Bonds through Sports and Culture”, highlighting the role of sports and cultural exchange in bringing county assemblies together.

Among the songs that resonated throughout the event was Raila Duogi, meaning ‘Raila come back’, by the late musician Lady Maureen, with members of the crowd singing along in tribute to former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

The fallen political icon who died in India exactly a year ago.

Participants observed a moment of silence in honour of Odinga and other deceased members of County Assemblies, paying tribute to their contributions to the country and its devolved system of governance.

The atmosphere later shifted to competition as county teams took to the field for tug-of-war contests, where Nyandarua defeated Kisumu before facing Bungoma, where the team maintained its winning streak with another victory.

Vuvuzelas blared as Kisumu and Nairobi County Assemblies took to the field for a football match, with Kisumu securing a 1–0 victory over Nairobi in a game played over two 15-minute halves.

Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o welcomed the participants, saying the 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 evolution provided members of county assemblies with opportunities to interact beyond their legislative responsibilities, strengthen relationships and share experiences on the challenges facing devolution.

Nyong’o challenged the legislators to exercise their legislative, oversight and supervisory responsibilities diligently, noting that the success of devolution should be measured by the impact of their decisions on ordinary citizens rather than the number of motions passed or debates held.

He also highlighted the economic opportunities presented by the games, saying the event would strengthen Kisumu’s profile as a destination for sports, tourism and investment following the successful hosting of the 2026 Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) African Road Cycling Championships last week.

The governor said traders, hoteliers, restaurant owners, boda boda operators, transport providers, food vendors and other small businesses stood to benefit from the presence of participants and officials from across the country.

He urged delegates to explore Kisumu’s cultural and tourism attractions, including Lake Victoria and Impala Park, while calling on residents and business owners to extend warm hospitality to visitors and offer fair prices.

Speaker of the Kisumu County Assembly, Elisha Jack Oraro, said the games offered an opportunity for County Assemblies to promote social cohesion, cultural exchange and teamwork among members and staff.

Oraro, who welcomed participants to Kisumu, said the annual event had also become a platform for county assemblies to benchmark and share experiences and best practices in legislation, representation and oversight.

He said the gathering was expected to benefit the local economy, particularly the hospitality and tourism sectors, while assuring participants of adequate accommodation and security during the games.

Oraro urged participants to uphold healthy competition and use the event to strengthen relationships across the 47 County Assemblies.

CASA President Peter Jateso Imwatok said the seventh edition of the games provided members of county assemblies and staff with an opportunity to relax, reconnect and showcase their talents beyond their demanding public service duties.

Imwatok said the Association also offered a platform for members from the 47 county assemblies to exchange knowledge, learn from one another and strengthen inter-county relationships.

He urged participants to embrace sportsmanship, unity and cultural diversity, noting that the games were about more than winning trophies and medals.

“Sports teaches us resilience, discipline, teamwork, and humility,” Imwatok said, adding that the lessons learnt during the games should inspire MCAs to become better leaders and more responsive representatives of their electorates.

The CASA president, who is also the leader of the majority party in the Nairobi City County Assembly, also encouraged participants to compete fairly and build lasting friendships during their stay in Kisumu.

Kisumu Deputy Governor, Dr Mathew Owili, also welcomed the participating teams to the lakeside city, urging them to embrace unity regardless of the results of the competitions.

In football, Kisumu County Assembly secured a 1–0 victory over Nairobi County Assembly in a match played over two 15-minute halves.

Vuvuzelas blared as Kisumu and Nairobi County Assemblies took to the field for their football match on the first day of the games, with the host team securing a 1–0 victory over Nairobi.

Centre Referee Joel Odira Oyugi said Kisumu’s winning goal was scored in the 12th minute by Ben Abuodha, who wore jersey number 10. Neither team found the net in the second half.

Oyugi described the match as largely well played, with the only yellow card issued in the second half after a Nairobi County Assembly player recklessly tackled a Kisumu player.

The County Assemblies Sports Association (CASA) Games began in 2018 following the separation of county assembly sporting activities from those involving county executive staff, in keeping with the separation of powers between the two arms of county government.

The games were established under the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) to promote unity, cultural exchange, physical fitness and peer learning among Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and Assembly staff.

The inaugural edition was held at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi in August 2018, attracting more than 1,500 participants from the 47 County Assemblies.

Uasin Gishu hosted the second edition in 2019, while the third edition was held in Mombasa in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 event.

Nakuru hosted the Fourth Edition in 2023, followed by Bungoma and Meru, and Kisumu is now hosting the Seventh Edition from October 25 to 31, 2026.

The 2026 County Assemblies Sports Association (CASA) Games feature several sporting disciplines, including football, handball, volleyball, netball, golf, badminton, board games and para-volleyball, alongside cultural performances and an eating competition.

The competitions are being held at various venues across Kisumu, including Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu National Polytechnic, Kenyatta Sports Ground, Aga Khan Hall and Kisumu Golf Club.

The week-long event, running from October 25 to 31, brings together members and staff of county assemblies for sporting competition, cultural exchange and networking under the theme “Beyond Competition: Forging Lasting Bonds through Sports and Culture”.

 Approximately 2,000 county assembly members are expected to participate, with the total number of participants and visitors projected to reach 10,000.

By Mabel Keya- Shikuku, Dorothy Pamella and Rose Anyul