Upper Hill High School from Nairobi Region ended Kisii School’s hopes of ending a long title drought, beating the Nyanza Region representatives 15-8 to win rugby 15s title in Brookside Secondary Schools Term One National Games in Kisumu yesterday.
Nyanza Region’s bid to translate home advantage into national glory fell short as the host region failed to secure a single title in a championship dominated by Western and Rift valley regions.
Upper Hill’s head coach, Newton Moranga, credited his team’s victory to composure.
“We managed to compose ourselves in the game. It sends a strong message to our opponents that hard work and discipline pays,” said Moranga.
“We have won the East Africa title before and we are optimistic about reclaiming it again this time.”
He added: “Our philosophy has always been to score first and control the game, no matter what.”
Regarded home of some of the country’s most competitive teams, particularly in hockey, rugby, and handball, Nyanza Region entered the championships with heightened expectations. Being hosts, Nyanza had additional slots in selected disciplines to boost participation and competitiveness on home soil.
But as the week-long tournament progressed, Nyanza didn’t translate numerical strength into podium finishes. One by one, Nyanza’s teams were eliminated at the knockout stage, reducing local fans who had turned up in large numbers at the Mamboleo and Kisumu Day venues to neutral spectators in the finals.
By the semifinal stage, Nyanza’s realistic title hopes had narrowed to two teams: Kisii School in rugby 15s and Nyamira Girls in hockey.
Both have consistently performed well in national, and East Africa championships.
Shadrack Morara (centre) of Friends School Kamusinga during their thrilling 54 - 51 victory at the 2026 Brookside Term One Secondary Schools National Games at Kisumu National Polytechnic on April 11, 2026. Photo:
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation
In girls’ hockey, Nyanza’s depth was evident with the presence of Nyamira Girls and Ng’iya Girls High School, two sides with recent regional dominance. Former East Africa champions Nyamira came into the tournament seeking to reclaim lost ground, while Ng’iya arrived with renewed confidence after dethroning Nyamira twice in regional competitions and securing a bronze medal at last year’s nationals.
Their semifinal clash was one of the stand-out fixtures of the tournament. The two teams battled to a 2-2 draw in regulation time in a fast-paced, tactically disciplined contest. Nyamira beat Ng’iya 4-3 in a tense penalty flicks. But Nyamira fell to St Joseph’s Kitale in the final.
In boys’ hockey, Kisumu Day School and Ringa Boys High School which represented Nyanza region were stopped in the semifinals. Kisumu Day, buoyed by home support, suffered defeat to Friends School Kamusinga, while Ringa Boys were outclassed by eventual champions St Anthony’s Boys High School, ending Nyanza’s challenge in the boys’ category.
Basketball followed a similar pattern. Barchando Girls High School showed promise by reaching the semi-finals of the 5x5 competition but were eliminated by Butere Girls High School, who went on to lift the title.
Despite moments of brilliance, Barchando struggled to match the experience and depth of the western giants, who have built a formidable reputation in school basketball over the years.
Rugby 15s presented Nyanza with perhaps its best chance to break the title drought. Kisii School, a side that has steadily built a reputation for physical and structured play, advanced to the final with hopes of ending a long wait for national success. However, they were narrowly beaten 15-8 by Upper Hill School in a tightly contested encounter defined by discipline and tactical execution.
Before Kisii School, St. Mary’s School Yala marked a notable return to the national stage for the first time since 2013.
Yala’s campaign, however, ended in the semifinals following a loss to Lukenya School.
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 .
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation
“We managed to compose ourselves in the game. It sends a strong message to our opponents that hard work and discipline pays,” said Moranga.
“We have won the East Africa title before and we are optimistic about reclaiming it again this time.”
He added: “Our philosophy has always been to score first and control the game, no matter what.”
In handball, Nyanza teams endured a difficult outing. Nyakach Girls High School were heavily beaten 31-10 in the semifinals by St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale, while St Mary’s Yala in the boys’ category failed to register a single win in the preliminary stages, underlining the region’s struggles in the sport.
By the end of the tournament, teams from other regions dominated the winners’ podium.
Butere Girls and Friends School Kamusinga, clinched the basketball titles, while St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale and St. Anthony’s Boys took top honours in hockey.
Handball titles went to Musingu Boys High School and Moi Girls Kamusinga, with Upper Hill School crowned rugby champions.
For Nyanza, the championships offered a mixed narrative.
