Nairobi — There were no trophies for the winners of the Coast provincial schools' music festival... organisers had no money to buy them.

Shocked pupils who took part in the festival, which ended on Friday at Mombasa Polytechnic University College, appealed to the government to set aside more money in future.

One of the organisers told the Daily Nation that the committee was not given the money it had requested by the Presidential Music Commissioner and had to cut the festival's duration.

"The festival should have run for at least five days but we did not have enough money to pay the 10 adjudicators," said the organiser, who did not wish to be named for lack of authority to comment.

Coast education quality assurance officer Jared Obiero confirmed the funds shortage. He said that some sponsors had reneged on their promises to help.

Pwani secondary emerged the winners in the African drum, string, wind and percussion instrumental ensembles and traditional dance.

Other schools which qualified for the national festivals next month are Tononoka, Miritini and Mama Ngina Girls.