Football champions Highway have a smooth ride to national games

After weeks and days of drama, uncertainty and tension on and off the pitch, the 2025 regional Term Two games finally ended with the crowning of champions in seven out of the eight regions.

Champions, finalists and some lucky semi-finalists booked their tickets to this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two games to be staged in Kakamega from July 28 to August 2.

However, the shocking allegations of age cheating, forgery of documents, endless appeals and court cases cast a dark shadow on the prestigious games that have produced Kenya’s sports stars over the years.

Even so, it was not all doom and gloom, as Nairobi, Coast, Central and Eastern regions faced no major challenges that could have threatened the smooth running of the games.

Some winners of last year’s competition survived the purge as their peers were sent packing. Reigning national boys’ and girls’ football champions Highway Secondary School and Butere Girls High School successfully defended their regional titles to remain in the race for the national gong.

Highway proved they are indeed Nairobi’s kings of school football after beating Olympic High School 2-0 in the final to win their third overall and second in a row.

They had eliminated 2017 national winners Upper Hill 2-1 to reach the final. Not even the return of revered tactician Joseph Makokha on Upper Hill’s touchline could stop the Highway lads in their quest to bag the regional title.

Daniel Maanzi, who bagged a brace for Highway in the final, said they had to play their hearts out because there was a lot at stake for them in the game.

“We had everything to lose and they had nothing, and so we had to be at our best and make sure that we retain the regional title to get a chance of defending our national trophy,” Maanzi said.

Unlike last year, there were fewer casualties at the regional level, with Central champions Kirangari and Rift Valley’s St Joseph’s Boys High School Kitale set to appear at the games.

Kirangari, who were the only 2023 regional champions to feature at the 2024 national games, will be making their third attempt to win the national gong.

Coast champions Serani Secondary School will be making a comeback after missing last year’s games, while Nyanza’s Agai Mixed Secondary School and Eastern’s Moi High School Mbiruri will make their debuts. North Eastern’s representative will be known later in the month.

Butere, who edged out rivals Madira Girls, will be looking to extend their national reign for three years in a row. They, however, face stiff competition from a strong line-up featuring sides that they are not very familiar with.

Only Butere and Nairobi champions Dagoretti Mixed secured their return to the nationals from last year’s games.

Butere’s Red Commandos, who alongside Madira will be playing at home, will be under pressure to impress crowds as well as ensure the trophy remains at home.

However, they must triumph over national returnees Kobala Mixed, who were crowned Nyanza champions, as well as Coast’s Mwanambeyu, who have been impressive at the lower levels of competition.

Newbies Ruiru Secondary School, Dr Charles from Eastern and Nasokol Girls High School will also be out to prove that their qualification to the national games was not a fluke.

National boys’ volleyball titleholders Cheptil High School are the only survivors from last year’s games after beating St Patrick’s Iten 3-1 to retain their Rift Valley crown.

They will be up against 2023 national winners Ruthimitu Secondary School from Nairobi, who recaptured their title after edging out Hospital Hill 3-2 (22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 18-25, 15-10) in the final.

The boys’ volleyball roster also consists of Coast’s Mwaluphamba Secondary School, Nyanza’s Gogo Mixed Secondary School, Eastern’s Gankanga Secondary School and Central’s Kagonye Secondary School.

Former national and East Africa champions Malava Boys High School secured their return to the nationals after four years in the cold. Yesterday, they beat Butula Boys in the final.

Girls’ volleyball powerhouses Kwanthanze Secondary School from Eastern and Kesogon Secondary School from Rift Valley will renew their rivalry at the Kakamega games.

The two sides, who have met in the last three national and East Africa finals, are among the seven girls’ teams that have already qualified for the national showpiece.

Nairobi’s Soweto Academy, who have played at every national since 2016, will also be hoping to finally get it right and taste national glory, alongside Nyanza’s Nyakongo, who also retained their regional title.

Western’s Bishop Sulumeti return to the national stage, having featured in 2019 when the games were held in Kisumu.

They dismissed St Martha Mwitoto, who dethroned them in 2022, in an entertaining five-set thriller. Moi Forces Academy and Kahuro Secondary School will represent Coast and Central regions respectively.

Friends High School Bwake and St Joseph’s Girls High School Kitale will be in Kakamega to defend their rugby 7s title. Bwake beat former national and East Africa champions Laiser Hill Academy 19-17 to retain the Rift Valley title.

The Sevens contest will see the return of Kitondo Secondary School from Eastern, who featured in the longer version of the game last year, finishing third at the nationals and fourth at the East Africa games held in Mbale, Uganda.

Kitondo beat Marsabit Mixed Secondary School 12-0 to lift the regional title. Team coach Michael Satia said he has quality players who are yearning to succeed.

“We didn’t feature in rugby 15s this year because we didn’t have the numbers to raise a team. Nonetheless, I have a very strong Sevens side that is ready to excel, and I’m confident that they will excel,” Satia said.

The rugby 7s cast consists of Nairobi’s Lenana School and Nairobi School, Central’s Alliance and Mpesa Academy, Bishop Baldacchino and Gede Boys (Coast), and St Mary’s Yala and Anjego from Nyanza.

Hosts Western will field four teams, with former national and East Africa champions St Peter’s Mumias and Koyonzo leading Musingu High School and Bungoma High. Laiser Hill will also be looking to reclaim the title that has eluded them for years.