A Cheerful Alumni Sports Day at Egerton University

On Saturday, it was pomp and colour when the Alumni Association flowed into Egerton University for their annual sports day to enjoy playing and competing various games.

In 2019, the Annual sports day took a break in due to the Covid-19 ramifications. Most activities involving large crowds were not only put on hold in the University but also on the global stage.

“It is a day in our University calendar that was disrupted by the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic. We have now managed to back the sports day to allow the alumni who were active in sports to keep in touch with the sports they played as well as interact with each other,” said the Egerton University Alumni Relations Coordinator Dr Hillary Chakava,

Alumni sports day is a moment when former students of the University engage with current students in mentorship talks, networking for career opportunities, sharing a meal, and creating social connectivity. The alumnus and alumna were clad in the sports kit they put on during their heydays in sports on campus.

 Dr Chakava, who is also a lecturer in the Communication and Media studies department explained: “Most alumni share opportunities available both in private and public sector, especially where they work like in the banking industry, Education sector, Agricultural Industry, Kenya Revenue Authority, Lecturers, and many other areas.”

Games Played

The participating teams consisted of the current students and the alumni. On the side of the alumni team, there were members as old as from the year 1999 up to the year 2015. The diversity spanning over the years is noteworthy and strengthens synergies among alumni members.

The sports day is not a competition as such, but a bonding session because it offers an opportunity for the University management to speak to the alumni, and share the existing challenges of the students.

Among the games played are Football, Tae Kwondo, and Rugby. The alumni team did not raise enough members for other games like Basketball, Hockey, Swimming, and Indoor games like table tennis. The University team beat the Alumni in football (4-2), in Taekwondo and in all other games played. The Alumni promised to come back next year more revamped and much better to win more games.

Alumni Funds Raising Committee

“We are keen to involve our young alumni in our activities and when we see them participate, it is important to the Alumni Association,” said the Chairman of Egerton University Alumni Association (EUAA) Dr Kuria Wamukuru. He encouraged members to support the university through the Alumni Funds Raising Committee, created in January 2022 by Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaac Kibwage. The Committee, he said, will be reaching out to the alumni members’ groups for support.

Dr Wamukuru also encouraged members whose ordinary membership has expired to either renew their membership by paying the annual Ksh. 1000 or pay Ksh. 7,500 once, to get a life membership to the EUAA.

Expressing gratitude to the alumni who sponsored the event, Dr. Chakava also lauded the efforts of a group of student volunteers known as “Wings of Hope.” The students assisted in the registration of participants and selling of Alumni merchandise. Some other students’ volunteers offered free commentating on the live sporting activities over the public address system. While others offered first aid services, there are those offered to entertain guests freely.

Among the attendants was; the Egerton University Director of Sports, Chairman of the Egerton University Students Association among other Alumni members working in both public and private sectors.  

Sports bring Members together.

Speaking shortly after the games, the Assistant Dean of Students Dr. Nyamweya highlighted the issues the students are undergoing like; the inability by some students to raise school fees, and the inability to buy a meal, among other issues.

The Alumni body led by their Nakuru Chapter Dr. Kuria Wamukuru undertook to seek sustainable ways to deal with such issues bedeviling a section of students while on campus.

“The sports day is a better way to mobilize the alumni to come and listen to the welfare of each other as well as students firsthand, we look forward to having bigger and better events in the future,” said the Alumni Coordinator.

Alumni Football Line-up

Egerton Alumni Football Line-up consisted of Dr. Okello Goalkeeper (09), Joanes Akumu (12), Thomas Shiroko (15), David Manyala (15), Jairus Evans (11B) Chrspin Abuya (02), Kevin Kiprop (13), Joseph Irungu (11B), Ashford Mbugua (11B), Isaac Nyandieka (10), Nickson Omondi (01). They were substituted by; Gerrard Yator (09), Joel Bunge (07), Victor Omondi (01) and Rooney Kimutai (02)

Story Written by: Kurian Musa

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