Did you know that Nakuru has had a historical record in the world of chess?

Well, in the 80s and 90s, Nakuru was known for the proficiency of its chess players.

Mtaa Wangu caught up with one of Nakuru chess Club founders and three -time Olympian, Dr. Joseph ole Sompisha and chess coach Dickson Gitari, to understand the journey of chess in Nakuru and its growth.

Dr. Sompisha notes that Nakuru was quite famed in the world of chess in the 80s and 90s for producing national champions and having Olympians from this region.

Dickson Gitari, the current coach at Nakuru chess club.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Then a Radiographer at the Nakuru PGH, Dr. Sompisha alongside David Githuka and Sakwa Mbugo would link up at the Nakuru Amateur Boxing club popularly known as Madison square for their training.

“Chess in Nakuru started off in 1979 with three players. I would say although the numbers were small, we kept the zeal of the game burning and would always link up for training at Madison. Afterwards, we shifted camp to Shik Park hotel where we would play our games in the evening. This propelled me to secure a spot in the Olympics four times,” he says.

A plaque of the Nakuru chess club mounted inside Shik park hotel in Nakuru city.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

He notes that he flew the Nakuru name high in 1986 In Dubai, 1988 in Greece and 1990 during the Olympics.

“In the 80s Kabarak high was among the best performing schools in chess. However, Mzee Moi seized the sport from being played in the school after he found smoked cigarette sticks during a tournament we organised at the school," he recalls.

According to Gitari , Sompisha and Githuka's presence in Nakuru had a huge impact in introducing chess in Nakuru and maintaining awareness of the sport.

“Nakuru was a hub for chess in the 80s but this would change after Dr. Sompisha left Nakuru in 2006 and after Mr. Githuka who was a primary school teacher at St. Joseph retired. This resulted to chess becoming dormant,” he explains.

He further notes that Dr. Sompisha who served as the first chairman of the Nakuru Chess club and organizer of the now Nakuru Chess Opens was quite active in organizing tournaments, mobilization of training materials, while his counterpart Githuka spread the chess gospel in school.

Shik park view hotel was a crucial meeting point for chess players in Nakuru.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

At that time, several schools got to play chess including Nakuru High, Moi Secondary, Menengai High School, Langalanga, Kabarak high school, St. Joseph primary among others.

Read: Koelel, Vanessa Grant, Kipepeo schools emerge winners at chess tournament

Consequently, their absence in the Nakuru chess fraternity led to a huge gap in the sport until 2021 when efforts to revive chess were started through the Nakuru chess academy.

He adds that through the academy and efforts from Nakuru chess club and chess parents, a young crop of chess champs has emerged in Nakuru with some getting to represent the county in international matches.

Gitari notes that Nakuru now boasts several top chess players including Moses Andiwoh Sasha Mongeli , Jackson Ndegwa , Jully Mutisya , Jerry Simiyu , Jadon Simiyu , Anabel Mideva , Wyne Joe among others.

Other than that, the Nakuru Chess Academy has embarked on a journey to introduce chess in schools to up the numbers of children and teens playing chess in the county.

The Nakuru Chess academy hold their training at Nakuru Athletics Club (NAC) during weekends from noon while the Nakuru chess Club hold training at classic hotel next to Afraha Stadium on weekdays in the evening and Saturday

Remembering a time Nakuru made massive moves in the world of Chess

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Purity Kinuthia