In a circular dated 12 October, The Ministries of Education and Sports, Arts and Culture gave guidelines for the resumption of sporting activities in schools.
The circular also directed the Ministry of Education to revise the calendar of activities for resumption of sports and while doing so, ensure that Ministry of Health officials are involved in every championship.
Currently, the Ministry of Education advises the school Principals to engage learners in co-curricular activities and guided inter-school contests over the weekends and after classes. Meanwhile the Ministry is working on modalities for full resumption of activities in due course.
Further, Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) will be required to ensure monitoring and evaluation for compliance.and that all protocols cascade to all the levels.
All schools allow learners to participate in guided Physical Education (PE) and adhere to the set protocols and ensure officials involved in the management of sports are vaccinated.
As part of the pre-competition protocol schools will be expected to maintain an adequate ratio of coach to participant for adequate supervision, ensure participants are hydrated, and keep training sessions short. Further participants are to put on clean face masks when not in action and avoid contacts that are unnecessary.
As far as venue preparation goes, organisers are expected to clearly display posters on Covid-19 protocols, at strategic points on portable stands, all over the field, venue and rooms. They are required to have proper signage to control flow of movement, designate hand wash points with soap, screen all for temperature and keep the records. Equipment should be sanitized beforehand and fields fumigated before and after use.
During competition, all are to observe social distance while at the venues. All competitors to wear mask unless in action and have a clearly labelled personal carrier bag where they personally put their personal effects that should not be shared.
The organizers should provide an ambulance manned by well-trained medical personnel and paramedics. All technical officials are to be provided with latex hand gloves and sanitizers.
The protocols have further banned one of the most anticipated traditions of the games, the match-past. In the new guidelines, it is to be replaced with dedicated team stations with use of public address systems to give instructions.