On November 14, 2024, the Kenya Army hosted its inaugural chess tournament at Kahawa Garrison, with Commander Kenya Army, Lieutenant General David Tarus, presiding over the event. Organized by the Kenya Army Chess team, the tournament aimed to foster camaraderie and sportsmanship across various Army Formations and Units.
In his opening remarks, Lt. Gen. Tarus highlighted the significance of making chess a recognized sport within the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
“Today not only marks the beginning of a structured approach to integrating chess into our training culture and sporting activity, but also a significant milestone to broaden our perspectives and build stronger minds within our ranks. I am confident that by embracing this sport, we can strengthen not only our analytical skills but also our resilience and decision-making under pressure,” he stated.
Chess, rooted in strategy, foresight, and patience, has long been aligned with military planning and leadership development. Lt. Gen. Tarus emphasized its potential to enhance critical thinking and decision-making—skills critical for soldiers in today’s complex operational environment.
The tournament saw participation from over 105 players in a six-round format. Defence Headquarters Camp Admin Unit (DHQ CAU) emerged as the top team, followed by the Armoured Brigade in second place and the 4th Brigade in third. Major Solomon Sang from the Armoured Brigade won the individual championship with a perfect score of 6 points, with Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Yohana Were from DHQ CAU securing second place, and Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Paul Ogwayo from Kahawa Garrison taking third.
The event was attended by senior military officers, including Brigadier Bernard Korir, Commandant DHQ CAU, Brigadier Martin Lenamunai, Kahawa Garrison Commander, Brigadier Collins Mitoko, Chief of Personnel Headquarters Kenya Army, Brigadier Japheth Ndegwa, Chief Army Medical Services, Senior Officers, Officers, and Service Personnel.
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