Families and schools have started embracing the relatively new game of Rubik Cube as its popularity spreads around the country, especially in Kericho County.
When it started as a friendly challenge in the work place, little did the soft spoken Vincent Lang’at who works with KENGEN know that he was stoking the interest of his children and wife.
“A friend in my workplace introduced this seemingly simple game to me. We even bet. After some short intervals of learning I realized I was hooked to it. When I travelled home, my children took interest and started using my Rubik cubes. That is how it started and now all of us play the game,” he said.
The father of three – a resident of Sumek in Soin-Sigowet Ward of Kericho County – calls on parents to embrace the Rubik cubes, which he says is far much more useful than the myriad digital devices that are churning out corrupted content.
Lang’at confesses a noticeable change in his boys’ behaviour after adopting the new game; they are now not keen on following some “popular” TV programmes and are more inclined to do their homework.
The Rubik’s enthusiast has now invested in purchasing more Rubik cubes for each of his children. One of his greatest challenges was getting a professional trainer, which was resolved when he met Mwalimu Stanley Kamau.
His eldest son Welson Kipng’eno, a Form Two at Wangabala High School in Homa Bay County, says he started practising using his father’s Rubik cubes and got hooked to the scintillating game.
His younger siblings Ian Kiprotich, Grade Six, and Mark Peter Kibet, Grade One at Tulwet Christian Academy, are gallant players who promise an exciting future for the new game. The youngsters have introduced several friends in their school. The school has also embraced the new game and are leading in the area.
According to Kamau, Lang’at’s family has welcomed the game with open arms and he encourages others to do the same. Kamau is a teacher and also a World Cube Association (WCA) event organizer.
Earlier this year, the trainer unveiled one Larry Kiprob, a Grade 8 pupil at Kericho Highlands Junior Primary School, who did manage to solve a 5*5 Rubik’s cube by himself.
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“In that category of under 12 years, he could be the leading in Kericho, the South Rift and possibly Kenya. I will also be offering a 6 *6 Rubik’s Cube for him to pursue his next cubing journey,” he said.
The teacher, who is the Founder of Last Mile Cube Association, said the achievement of Kiprob was worth celebrating since he did it all by himself.
“This is what CBC is advocating for; enhancement of competencies, talent, character and 21st Century skills,” he said.
Last Mile Cube Association deals with marketing and promotion of speed cubing and Rubik Cube.
Mwalimu Kamau said speed cubing is a new concept in Kenya and he was in the forefront in its promotion as a learning tool, as a global sport and also as a career.
He said the Rubik’s cube benefits also include improvement of cognitive power, improves memory, helps to develop problem solving skills, enhances brain-hand-eye coordination and reflexes, entertainment, and helps in stress reduction.
The trainer revealed that there are around 12 primary schools in the county which have embraced the game. He is now extending his training to the Kericho Teachers Training College where he has got some keen players.
By Benedict Ngétich
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