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Newcomers out to challenge old order as secondary schools national games begin
Raila Educational Centre players celebrate after lifting the girls’ football title in the 2026 Nairobi Region Secondary Sports Association Term Two Games on July 12, 2026 at Jamhuri High School.
M-Pesa Foundation Academy in Kiambu County comes alive on Sunday, August 2, morning when the 2026 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term Two National Games kick off, with teams from across the country competing in 14 disciplines.
The championship will run until Thursday.
Besides football, volleyball, netball, basketball 3x3, rugby 7s, table tennis and lawn tennis, which have traditionally been contested in term two, this year’s championship will involve six new disciplines. They are baseball, lacrosse, beach volleyball, cricket, chess and scrabble.
Mang’u High School and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) will host lacrosse, baseball, cricket, and beach volleyball competitions, while the rest of the disciplines will take place at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy.
Sunday’s matches will be preceded by an opening ceremony, which is expected to be graced by senior officials from the Ministry of Education and KSSSA. The top three teams from each discipline will qualify for the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) championships which will be held in Morogoro, Tanzania from August 12 to 23.
Meanhile, after ending St Joseph’s Girls Kitale’s dominance in rugby in Rift Valley region, Itigo Girls High School are determined to prove that their regional triumph was no fluke as they prepare for the national championships.
The school from Nandi county head to the national competition full of confidence after producing one of the biggest upsets at the Rift Valley Games in Narok, where they stunned former champions St Joseph’s Girls Kitale 19-0 in the final to lift the regional title.
The victory marked a major milestone for the school, ending the dominance of one of the region’s most successful rugby programmes and earning Itigo a place among the country’s elite school teams. The players now believe they have what it takes to compete with the best at the national level.
Head coach Joachim Melly said the historic victory has inspired the team but insisted the players remain focused on the bigger task ahead.
Bungoma High School football players celebrate after scoring a goal during western region secondary schools Term Two games in Bungoma on July 11, 2026.
“Winning the Rift Valley championship boosted the girls’ confidence, but our mission is not complete. Every team at the nationals has earned its place, so we must stay disciplined, work hard and give our best in every match,” said Melly.
He noted that the technical bench has been working on improving the team’s defence, ball handling and decision-making to ensure the players are ready for the intensity of the national competition.
Team captain Gracias Chebet said: “Many people underestimated us before the Rift Valley finals, but we believed in ourselves. We now want to prove that we belong among the country’s best teams by competing for the national title.”
Assistant captain Mitchele Mmboga noted that the players have embraced the expectations that come with being regional champions.
“Our victory has motivated us to work even harder. We know other teams will be ready for us because of what we achieved in Narok, but we are equally prepared for the challenge,” she said.
The school’s head of sports department, Elias Kemboi, praised the team’s steady improvement throughout the season, expressing confidence that the players can compete strongly against the country’s top schools.
Upper Hill players celebrate triumph after clinching the rugby title with a 15-8 victory against Kisii School on April 11, 2026 during the 2026 Brookside Term One Secondary Schools National Games at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium, Kisumu .
“They have shown commitment, discipline and teamwork throughout the season. Their progress has been remarkable, and we believe they have what it takes to compete at the highest level, “said Kemboi.
While flagging off the team, Chief Principal Juliah Kimenjo Samoei urged the girls to remain united, disciplined and determined as they seek national glory.
“The girls have already made history by winning the Rift Valley championship. We now encourage them to stay focused, play as a team and seize the opportunity to make another milestone by bringing the national trophy home and qualify for East Africa games which are slated to be held in Morogoro, Tanzania,” she said.
Fixtures
Girls’ netball:
Pool A:
- Moi Forces Kibwezi v Andersen
- Bukokholo v Asumi
Pool B
- Kinale v Hon. DM Amin
- Raila v Kaya Tiwi
Girls’ football
Pool A
- Kaya Tiwi VS Kiaritha
- St. Joseph’s VS. Nyakach
Pool B
- Raila v Archbishop
- Karibarib v Misuuni
Boys’ football
Pool A
- Menengai v Yala
- Tononoka v Highway
Pool B
- Kakamega v Takaba
- Mwenda-Andu v Tumaini
Boys’ volleyball
Pool A
- Furaha Mixed v Masara
- Chepsaita v Kiambaa
Pool B
- Ruthimitu v Chesamis
- Moi Forces v Matiliku
Girls’ volleyball
Pool A
- St. Marthas v Kwanthanze
- Kahuro v Wajir Girls
Pool B
- Kesogon v Aluor
- Mwanambeyu v Soweto
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