Kenya’s preparations to host the 14^th Edition of East Africa Community Inter-Parliamentary Games (EAC-IPG) to be held in Mombasa County from December 6 to December 18, 2024 is on track.

This is according to the Co-Chairperson, Bunge Sports Club, Hon. Vincent Musau (Mwala). Hon. Musau led Members of the Committee and secretariat on a three-day inspection tour of the venues set to host the games.

Talking to this writer after a meeting with the coast region security team on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Hon. Musau said the necessary arrangements for the games have been made.

“Preparation is on three fronts, security, playing grounds and accommodation. We have just had a meeting with the security team this morning. They have assured us that they have more than enough personnel and infrastructure. I can also confirm that we have visited the playing grounds and the fields are available and ready for the games,” he said.

He added that necessary arrangements have been made for all participants in terms of hotel reservations. Noting that December is a high season for tourists, he called on all the participants to continue making their reservations early.

The team inspected Shanzu Teachers Training College grounds where football, athletics and tug of war will be held. Here, the Principal, Dr. Peter Ekabu assured Members that the grounds would be ready for the planned activities. Areas that required improvements which included levelling of goal area, repainting the goal posts to make them visible and marking of the field for athletics were discussed.

At Agha Khan Academy which will host netball, volleyball, basketball and darts for Persons with Disability (PWD), the Members were impressed with the levels of preparations. They confirmed that the proposed adjustments had been made.

The opening ceremony for the games which will be held on December 7, 2024 will be marked with a procession from the Office of Mombasa Governor to Mama Ngina Waterfront where speeches will be delivered.

Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the host Kenya, have confirmed their participation.

The games that will be played include; golf, football, athletics, tug of war, netball, volleyball, basketball and darts for PWDs.

Members who included, Hon. Mishi Mboko and Hon. Elsie Muhanda also had a meeting with Mombasa County governor, Hon. Abdulswammad Nassir who assured them of his support for the games.

In his message to Kenyans, Hon. Musau urged all Kenyans and especially residents of Mombasa to take advantage of the games and sell Kenya as a tourist destination.

“Take notice of this event that continues to sell Kenya as a tourist destination. Come and watch the games in the spirit of widening and deepening integration in the East African region,” he said.

The EAC-IPG was established by a resolution of the 4^th EAC Bureau of Speakers held in 2009. The meeting resolved to hold Inter-Parliamentary Games for East Africa Community Partner States on an annual and rotational basis with the aim of building relations between the East African Community Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the Parliaments of the East African Community region.