Who will pack and leave at the end of regional Term One games?

After a successful completion of county games, the stage is now set for regional battles.

The championships will culminate in winners qualifying for this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games.

With Kenya hosting this year’s Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games in August, stakes are high at all levels of competition.

Hosting the games comes with increased slots to the prestigious schools’ event that has seen even the International Schools Sports Federation (ISF) come to benchmark in East Africa.

County champions as well as finalists in some regions will have everything to fight for as they seek tickets to the national games which will be held from April 7 to 12 at Shanzu Teachers College and Shimo La Tewa High School, Mombasa.

Unlucky champions have already been dethroned at the county level marking the end of the road for some this year, while others will have a chance to redeem themselves at the regional games.

For instance, former national and East Africa hockey champions Nyamira Girls High School lost their Siaya County title to Ng’iya Girls, but good for them because they still have a chance to defend the Nyanza region trophy. Maseno School (rugby 15s), Kisumu Day and Kisumu Girls (hockey) lost their Kisumu County titles.

However, for Mbooni Boys, who lost 14-15 to Matiliku in boys’ handball final, go back to the drawing board to strategize for the 2026 games.

Mbooni also lost their basketball title to Kasikeu after being eliminated in the semis. Fallen giants are yearning to reclaim their lost glory. Friends School Kamusinga a sleeping hockey powerhouse will be seeking to secure their return to the national games.

Kamusinga coach Godfrey Muleyi said his charges are itching to return to the nationals and will give their all at the regional games.

“Competition is very stiff in Western and any team from this region ends up winning or playing in the national final. We have worked very hard, the boys are eager to return to the nationals,” Muleyi said.

There were no surprises in Nairobi and all regional champions will be out to defend their titles. 

Dagoretti High School (basketball), Nairobi School (hockey), Hospital Hill (handball) and Lenana School (rugby15s) will be looking to defend their boys’ titles. Buruburu Girls (basketball), Pangani Girls (hockey) Dagoretti Mixed (handball) will also put their titles on the line. 

North Eastern regional games will be held from March 27 to 30 at Sabunley Secondary School and Wajir Girls High School, Wajir County.  

Meanwhile, for the first time, Olkokwe Girls’ basketball team will be taking part in the Rift Valley Secondary Schools set for Eldoret this week.

This was after they defeated Kapropita Girls 45-44 in a closely contested final match in Eldama Ravine over the weekend.

Enroute to the finals, Olkokwe, the Mogotio Sub-County champions, walloped Ruth Kiptui Girls 47-10 as Kapropita silenced Solian Girls 28-26 in another semifinal match.

While congratulating his players for the achievement, Olkokwe coach Ryan Kigen said his priority is to expose the players as he aims to get to the semifinal stages.

“I take this achievement highly as our aim is to expose the girls at this level to enhance their capacity in tackling experienced sides in future,” Kigen told Standard Sports.

In boys’ basketball, Baringo High School qualified for the regional championships after overcoming Emining 69-36 in the final.

In handball, Kipcherere Girls and Moi Kabartonjo Boys won their respective titles.

Kituro Boys and Mogotio Girls won the boys and girls’ hockey titles respectively after dethroning Emining Boys 3-1 and Solian Girls 2-1.

In the rugby 15s, Baringo High School won 29-7 against Kabarnet Boys.