Rwanda, Kenya dominate EA inter-parliamentary Games

Kenya and Rwanda parliaments dominated the just concluded 6th Edition of the EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games staged in Kigali from December 4 to 10.

Friday, December 11, 2015
Rwanda women parliamentary volleyball team players celebrate after winning a point in the final against Kenya. (S. Ngendahimana)

Thursday: Finals

Women V-ball

Rwanda                2-0           Kenya

Third place

EALA                      0-2           Uganda

Wednesday: Men

Rwanda                0-2          Kenya

Third place

EALA                      2-0          Uganda

Football

EALA               1-1          Uganda (4-2)

Third place

Rwanda         0-0          Kenya (4-2)

Kenya and Rwanda parliaments dominated the just concluded 6th Edition of the EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games staged in Kigali from December 4 to 10.

Law makers from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) competed in different sports disciplines including football, golf, netball, volleyball, tug of war and athletics.

Kenyan congress men’s team won volleyball title after beating hosts Rwanda 2-0 in the final on Wednesday, while Rwanda took the women’s crown with two straight sets win over Kenya 25-16, 25-19.

Uganda took third spot (in men) after defeating EALA 2-0 (25-7, 25-5) while EALA claimed the women’s bronze medal when their would-be opponents, Uganda, failed to show up for the match.

MP Agnes Mukazibera and Senate vice president Fatou Harerimana played a key role in winning Rwanda the final. Uganda won the netball title ahead of Kenya, EALA and Rwanda in that order.

In football, EALA beat Uganda 4-3 in penalty shoot-out to win the title after a 1-1 draw while Rwanda finished in third position after beating Kenya also on post-match spot-kicks, 4-2 following a goalless draw in normal time. The games lasted 70 minutes.

In women athletics, Rwandan MP Petronille Mukandekezi took gold in 100m after clocking 16’22’’; she was followed by Venelanda Nyirahirwa with 16’38’ while Kenyan Eusilah Ngeny came in third position with 16’54’’.

The 200m race was dominated by Ugandan Elizabeth Karungi 36’36’’ (1), Hon. Brenda Nabukenya with 36’37’’ (2) while Kenyan MP Aisha, settled for third place in 37’40’’.

Winnie Kiiza of Uganda won the 400m in a time of 1’30’73’’, Mediatrice Izabiliza (Rwanda) came second with 1’34’78’’ while Harriet Mbabazi (Uganda) came in third with 1’40’ 58’’.

Rwanda’s Annonce Manirarora claimed gold in 800m with 4’44’’ 73’’’, in second position came Kenyan MP Dorcas 4’44’’ 83’’ while MP Nancy Abisay from EALA took bronze in 5’17’’12’’.

The 1500m gold was struck by Hon. Mediatrice Izabiliza in a time of 9’10”39’” followed by Hon. Gloriose Uwanyirigira in 9’57’09’’’ and on third position was Hon. Suzan Chebet (Kenya) 11’54’’51’’’.

The 100mx4 relay was won by Uganda followed by Rwanda and Kenya. Uganda also dominated the 400mx4 relay while Rwanda and Kenya took silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Athletics -Men 

Kenyan MP Isaac Melly won the 100m in 11’67’’, followed by David Ochieng 11’97’’while Rwanda’s Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi finished in fourth position with 12’96”.

In the 200m, Danny Wanyana (Kenya) took gold in 24’79”, followed by Uganda’s Tom Aza  with time of 26’44”, while Damien Nyabyenda (27’34”) and JMV Gatabazi (27’66’’) finished 3rd and 4th respectively.

Victor Munyaka (Kenya) was the winner in the 400m in a time of 56’38’’ followed by his compatriot Wesley Korir (59’91’’) and Aza took bronze in 1’02”82’’’.

In the 800m, Kenyans Westey Koviv (2’19”75’’’) and Kisoi Munyao (2’42”39’” took the gold and silver, respectively, while Gabriel Semasaka of Rwandan settled for bronze in a time of 2’42”58’’’.

Wesley Korir won the 1500m in 4’36”05’” followed by Rwanda’s Nyabyenda with 5’49”03’’’ while Kenya’s Julius Melly came in third position with 6’39”44’”.          

Kanya dominated both the 100mx4 and 400mx4 relays, followed by Uganda and Rwanda, who took silver and bronze in both races respectively.

Tug of war was won by Kenya, followed by Rwanda and Uganda in the women category, while in the men’s, it was Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda in that order. 

In golf, it was Kenyan dominance with 33 points, followed by EALA with similar scores while Rwanda scored 21 points as Uganda went home with 0 points.

The Inter-Parliamentary tournament was first held in Arusha, Tanzania in November ,2009 to mark the 10th Anniversary of EAC.

Since then, EAC Partner States have hosted the Inter-Parliamentary Games on a rotational basis. Burundi and Tanzania parliamentarians did not turn up for this year’s games.