Governor Sparks Debate After Sponsoring Eating Competition, Awards Winner Sh2000

Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya has got Kenyans murmuring on the internet after presiding over an event where an eating competition was undertaken.

The county boss at Chepchoina Primary School grounds on Friday, December 1, to launch the month-long Governor's Cup football tournament.

According to the governor, the tournament which attracted numerous teams was aimed at exhibiting talents from the grassroots.

"This tournament has attracted over 250 teams, with each ward presenting 8 men's and 4 women's teams. I'm hopeful that this platform will pave the way for talented players to be scouted by professional clubs," said Natembeya.

The eating contest was held on the sidelines of the main event.

The contestants were lined up and each given 600g of bread and 2 litres of soda which they were to munch within minutes.

The teams split to females and males raced against time as they eyed the ultimate prize dangled by the governor.

A young boy emerged as the winner of the males' category; he was taken to the dias together with the women's winner to receive his Sh 2,000 prize.

The events divided opinion on X as the Kenyan netizens expressed concern over the healthiness aspect of it.

Some argued the foodstuffs contained excess sugar that could have implications on the contestants' health.

Others opined the event was a dangerous one as the competitors would have choked to death in the race for the money, some other quarter arguing the governor ought to have come up with a viable venture for the people instead.

Here are a few reactions;

@Robinson: "It is very easy for Bill Gates's agenda to materialize in Africa, just introduce food-eating competition."

@Nenst Org: "The county will take care of the burial."

@Pin Moses: "All that sugar in the blood?"

@Waziri Starehe: "They should go for first aid after this."

@Lucy Njeri: "Poor people are entertainment for the rich."