KPA’s Quest for Glory at the 2025 KECOSO Games: Celebration of Unity and Teamwork
Chairman of KECOSO Governing Council Mr. Cyril Wayongo presents the Mawasiliano shield to Head of Administration Mrs. Jayne Kamau KPA 38 KECOSO games in Kisumu. (Photo/ Courtesy)
By Andrew Mwangura
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
As the sun rises over Embu County this Saturday, August 23, 2025, the stage will be set for a vibrant display of athleticism, camaraderie, and corporate pride at the 44th edition of the Kenya Communications Sports Organization (KECOSO) Games.
Among the teams vying for supremacy is the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), which has dispatched a formidable contingent of 81 athletes to represent the organization.
Drawn from various divisions, these athletes will compete in indoor games, netball, and field athletics, carrying the weight of KPA’s storied legacy in the competition.
With multiple Mawasiliano Shield titles to their name, KPA is not merely participating but aiming to reclaim its past glory as a dominant force in the games. This year’s event is more than a sporting spectacle; it is a testament to the enduring power of teamwork, unity, and the role of sports in fostering bonds across Kenya’s public sector.
The KECOSO Games, founded in 1978, have grown into a cherished tradition that brings together employees from government parastatals and ministries, including the Ministry of Roads and Transport, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and Creative Arts.
The games serve a dual purpose: promoting physical and mental well-being while creating a platform for networking and collaboration among organizations.
From football to volleyball, athletics to table tennis, the event showcases a diverse array of disciplines, each designed to nurture talent and encourage a culture of fitness.
For KPA, the games are an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to these values while showcasing the athletic prowess of its workforce.
At the heart of KPA’s participation this year is a renewed emphasis on teamwork, a principle eloquently highlighted by Dr. Sudi Mwasinago, the General Manager of Operations, who flagged off the team on behalf of Managing Director Capt. William Ruto.
Speaking at the send-off ceremony, Mwasinago reminded the athletes of KPA’s illustrious history in the KECOSO Games, a time when rival teams regarded them as formidable opponents.
His words were not just a call to action but a reminder of the legacy these athletes inherit—a legacy built on discipline, unity, and an unrelenting drive for excellence. Mwasinago’s emphasis on teamwork as the cornerstone of KPA’s participation underscores the deeper significance of the games.
Beyond the medals and trophies, the event is a celebration of collective effort, where individual talents merge to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
KPA’s history in the KECOSO Games is a source of pride.
The organization has clinched the Mawasiliano Shield multiple times, with notable victories in 2018 in Kakamega, where they amassed 139 points, and in 2019 in Kisii, where they secured 157 points to claim the overall title.
These triumphs were not just about athletic dominance but about the spirit of unity that KPA brought to the field.
Athletes like Emily Chebet, Beatrice Chebet, and Wiseman Were, who excelled in track and field events, became symbols of KPA’s ability to nurture talent.
However, recent years have seen stiff competition, with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) emerging as a strong contender, winning the overall title in 2022 in Kericho and 2023 in Narok.
For KPA, the 2025 games in Embu represent a chance to reassert their dominance and remind their rivals of the formidable force they once were—and can be again.
The KECOSO Games are more than a corporate sporting event; they are a microcosm of Kenya’s public sector, where diverse organizations come together to celebrate shared values.
The inclusion of ministries and parastatals from communications, transport, and sports sectors highlights the games’ role in fostering inter-agency collaboration.As Mwasinago noted, the event is a platform for camaraderie, allowing employees to forge connections that transcend their professional roles.
In a world where workplace stress and silos can erode morale, the KECOSO Games offer a refreshing opportunity for public servants to engage in healthy competition, build relationships, and return to their desks with renewed energy.
This sense of unity is particularly vital in Kenya, where national cohesion is a cornerstone of development.
By bringing together staff from different regions and organizations, the games promote a sense of shared purpose, reminding participants that they are part of a larger mission to serve the nation.
For the athletes representing KPA, the journey to Embu is not just about winning medals but about embodying the organization’s values.
The 81-strong contingent, carefully selected from various divisions, reflects KPA’s diverse talent pool.
From the precision of indoor games like table tennis and scrabble to the intensity of netball and the endurance of field athletics, these athletes will showcase the versatility and resilience that define KPA’s workforce.
The games also provide a platform for uncovering hidden talent, as seen in past editions where athletes like Collins Omae and Faith Cherotich rose to prominence. For some, the KECOSO Games may be a stepping stone to national or even international competitions, aligning with the government’s commitment to nurturing sports talent, as articulated by past leaders like Cabinet Secretary Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen.
As KPA’s athletes take to the fields and courts of Embu, they carry with them the hopes of their colleagues and the weight of a proud legacy.
The Mawasiliano Shield, which KPA has lifted multiple times, is more than a trophy; it is a symbol of excellence, teamwork, and the enduring spirit of competition.
While the outcome of the 2025 games remains uncertain, one thing is clear: KPA’s participation is a reminder of the power of sports to unite, inspire, and transform.
The athletes will compete not just for glory but for the chance to strengthen bonds with their peers, promote a culture of fitness, and showcase the best of what KPA and Kenya’s public sector have to offer.
In a broader sense, the KECOSO Games reflect the aspirations of a nation that values unity and progress.
As Embu County hosts this year’s event, it will become a hub of energy and excitement, drawing spectators and participants alike to celebrate the transformative power of sports.
For KPA, the games are a chance to reclaim their place at the top, but more importantly, they are an opportunity to demonstrate that teamwork and camaraderie are the true victories.
As the athletes compete under the KPA banner, they will embody the spirit of an organization—and a nation—that thrives when it works together.
The author is a policy analyst specializing in maritime governance and blue economy development.
