KASA - the Kenyan Amateur Scrabble Association

Kenya's four representatives for the 2001 World Scrabble Championships (WSC), in Las Vegas, Nevada, Usa on 13-17 December 2001:

Dennis Omullo is Kenya's first seed. He is a High School Maths teacher. He had one first place and two second place finishes in the qualifiers. He only gave up half a point in 5 games against the veteran and two-time WSC participant Stanley Njoroge, and knocked Stanley out of the top four. Dennis won a huge radio as top qualifier, donated by Ken Knitt co.

Dr Michael Chiro Gongolo, a vetenarian. He graduated from the University of Nairobi in 1990. He was tipped to be the first qualifier, having won two of the preliminary events, only to be thwarted at the last hurdle by Assessa's will to qualify in the final event. Dr Gongolo finished in 30th position in the 1999 WSC in Melbourne Australia. He is aiming for a top-20 finish in Las Vegas this year. He is respected in Kenya for his mastery of awkward words. He learns by reading word lists.

Joshua Manase Otieno (aged 40). He is a high school maths teacher and graduate of the University of Nairobi (1985). He collected three second places in the six qualifying tournaments. Manase has over 50 local trophies in his cabinet. He claims to have mastered over 80% of the seven and eight-letter words.

Dickson Assesa (aged 53). He is a chemical dyer and a graduate of Dar-es-Salaam University (1972). He sneaked into the team by winning the last of the six qualify tournaments, and has vowed to be in the top ten at the WSC this year.

Reserves (in order)

Dr Patrick Litunya, Kimani Macharia, Willy Mwangi, Stanley Ndungu Njoroge, Dr Akinyi Odinga and Joash Manyasa.

Notable absentees are WSC veteran Shafique Thobani (who finished 7th in 1995) and Matayo Bwire. The mighty Patrick Gitonga Nderitu has emigrated to the USA and will be sadly missed. Besides being a brilliant Scrabble player, he is one of the few in the world to have 3 seven letter words in his name, all of which have valid anagrams: PATRICK, TRIPACK; GIGATON; INTRUDE, TURDINE UNTIRED, UNTRIDE and UNTRIED!!

The 2002 PANASA Scrabble Championships will take place in Nairobi, Kenya.

17 to 20 October 2002

There will be 24 rounds.

At this stage, each country will be allocated 15 places, with Kenya as host having 25 places.

PANASA and KASA Chairperson Dickson Assesa welcomes comments and suggestions on:

The venue
Accommodation
Number of players
Rules
Prizes

Contact Dr Michael Gongolo or Joash Manyasa with feedback!