Siaya Governor’s Cup Prize Money to Hit KES 3 Million Mark in 2024, Says Orengo

By Eric Omwombo 

The County Government of Siaya through the Department of Sports has allocated KES 3 million as prize money for the team that lifts 2024 Governor’s Cup together with the runners-up.

Photos: Photos Siaya Governor’s Press.

The winner of the tournament will take home KES 2 million and a further KES 1 million will be handed the runners up.

According to Siaya Governor James Orengo, the Governor’s Cup will run from December 29th 2025-to January 1st ,2025 and will attract teams from 30 wards.

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The tournament will kick off on December 29th, 2024 after Wards competitions are over and best teams have been selected to fight for the coveted trophy at Migwena grounds in Bondo sub-county.

Orengo said in the just-concluded Governors Cup Bondo United lifted the cup pocketing a cool KES 1 million.

Bondo United thrashed Ugunja FC 2-0.

Orengo at the same time committed a further KES 1million for the winner of Kanyaboli marathon scheduled for August this year.

“Aim of promoting sports around Kanyaboli is to promote the ox-lake as a tourist attraction site,” said the Governor.

Speaking while he officiated the Madingu back-to-school tournament held at Kagilo Primary School on Thursday. He boosted the prize awards of the winners and so they pocketed KES 130,000 instead of the initial KES 30,000.

The tournament attracted 8 teams.

“We believe in the development of football and other disciplines in the county. We are keen on promoting sporting activities at the grassroots.”

Orengo was accompanied by Deputy Speaker Andercus Oduor Odongo, Majority Leader Martin Otieno, Central Gem MCA Sylas Madingu, East Gem MCA Seth Baraka and East Alego MCA Scholastica Madowo.

Yala Township MCA William Kinyanyi said he was financially supporting grassroots sports to promote youth talents and boost their bid to fight for the Governor’s Cup.

Madingu said they will prioritize sports funds in the budgets to ensure the tournaments thrive.

“With Orengo in leadership, we have no doubts about developments,” said Madingu adding that he had allocated KES 30,000 for the winners, KES 20,000 for the runners up and KES 10,000 for the 3rd-best.

“I want to ask the players not to bother about cash awards but see the tournament as a platform to showcase talent,” said Madingu.

“To build up the tournament in Central and East Gem wards, we shall contribute KES 50,000 each to hold inter-wards competitions,” said Baraka.

The leaders insisted that the Gem constituency is an ODM zone and would muzzle initiatives that would see UDA outfits thrive.

To deal with UDA outfits, the MCA’s have hatched a plot to unseat Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo whom they claimed was using little powers he was wielding to frustrate their programs at the ward level.

“We have lost trust in Odhiambo and would lock him out of the position at the ballot box come 2027,” said Kinyanyi.

Kinyanyi said they lost hope on Odhiambo the moment he ceased subscribing to ODM party ideologies and backed President William Ruto whose actions saw Kenyans coerced to pay heavy taxations.

“As MCA’s from Gem, we have encountered frustrations from our MP to the extent of being locked out of the venues we had booked to hold end-year football tournaments,” said Kinyanyi.

“The MP will not micromanage us”, said Kinyanyi, adding “He either reduces chest-thumping and works for the electorate or else it will not be business as usual.”