Nairobi: Kiambu Town Member of Parliament Machua Waithaka has launched the inaugural Machua Waithaka Annual Indoor Games Championship at the Ndumberi Jitume ICT Hub, an initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing sporting talent among young people in the constituency.
According to Kenya News Agency, the championship brought together participants competing in chess, scrabble, table tennis, darts, draughts, and dance. The event attracted youth, sports officials, and local leaders who emphasized the importance of promoting indoor sports as a pathway for talent development.
Speaking during the event, Waithaka stated that the competition seeks to provide young people with opportunities to develop their skills and compete at higher levels. ‘We want to identify talent early and create pathways for our youth to grow into national, African, and world champions,’ he said.
The MP highlighted that while Kenya has earned global recognition in athletics, the country also has significant potential to excel in other sporting disciplines if young talent is identified and nurtured from an early age. He encouraged youth to actively participate in indoor games, noting that these activities promote discipline, teamwork, critical thinking, and self-confidence, while also opening opportunities for professional careers in sports.
Waithaka expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Sports and various sports federations for supporting the initiative by providing technical officials and guidance during the championship. The participating federations included Chess Kenya Federation, Kenya Scrabble Association, Kenya Darts Association, Kenya Table Tennis Association, and Kenya Draughts Association.
Winners in the different categories received awards in recognition of their outstanding performances, while all participants were encouraged to continue refining their skills through regular training and competitions. Waithaka expressed confidence that the annual championship would grow into an important platform for discovering and nurturing emerging talent while popularizing indoor sports across Kiambu Town Constituency.
