The much-anticipated rematch between Kakamega High School’s Green Commandos and Musingu Boys High School, slated to determine second and third place in the 2025 Kakamega County Secondary School Football Championship, was abruptly called off after Kakamega High declined to field their team.
In a statement on the day of the rematch, Kakamega High’s Head Coach, Samuel Oindo, explained that the school had not received any formal communication about the rematch and was still awaiting a decision from the KSSSA Supreme Jury regarding their appeal.
“We did not show up at Nyang’ori because we contested the jury’s ruling. We were not satisfied with the verdict, especially concerning Article 14(e) of the KSSSA Constitution on player eligibility. That’s why we appealed to the Supreme Jury, and we’re now waiting for their decision,” Oindo said.
Kakamega High officials, including Coach Oindo, revealed that the school only learned about the rematch through social media and had not received any official communication from the relevant authorities.
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According to Oindo, the decision to stage a rematch is unconstitutional. He stressed that the KSSSA Constitution clearly outlines that teams found guilty of fielding ineligible players should face disqualification, not a rematch.
The controversy stems from a circular issued by the Ministry of Education on July 4, 2025, signed by County Director of Education Hellen Nyang’au, which declared that both Kakamega and Musingu had fielded ineligible players, violating KSSSA rules. As a result, Musingu was stripped of the county championship title, Kakamega was demoted from third place, and a rematch was ordered to determine the new standings.
However, Kakamega High insists that no formal appeal was lodged against them by Musingu, and that all their players are legitimate Form Four students, as verified by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC). The school contends that the ruling is unfair and constitutionally flawed.
Amos Wamanga, the Games Master at Kakamega High, voiced his frustration, describing a long-standing history of what he perceived as bias against the school. He criticized the unclear nature of the communication surrounding the rematch.
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“We received the ruling on Friday evening, and frankly, the communication was unclear. We could not, in good conscience, accept a rematch. This isn’t just about qualifying for regionals; it’s about restoring fairness and sanity in school sports,” Wamanga said.
He compared the situation to the biblical story of two women fighting over a child, with one woman willing to divide the child. “That’s what Musingu is doing—embracing a flawed decision. We won’t let our boys suffer. The child is ours, and we won’t allow it to be split,” Wamanga added.
Wamanga cited the KSSSA Constitution, particularly Article 14(e) and Section 17 (1, 2, 3), which clearly state that any team found fielding ineligible players must face disqualification and a ban—not a rematch.
“The Constitution is clear. A team fielding ineligible players must be disqualified and banned. Nowhere does it allow for a rematch,” Wamanga emphasized.
Abbas Keya, Vice Chair of the Kakamega High School Alumni Team, also voiced strong support for the school’s decision to reject the rematch, calling the situation an injustice. “We’ve supported this team for years, and what’s happening is injustice. We played the county games under protest. This isn’t about fear; it’s about fairness. We want integrity in school sports. Musingu has a history of fielding ineligible players,” Keya stated.
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Keya raised concerns about the jury’s ruling process, questioning why Kakamega had been penalized without a formal appeal against them by Musingu. “Musingu never appealed against us. So how did we end up being punished? Who appealed against Kakamega? Was it the county jury? Why?” he asked.
As the controversy lingers, members of the football community are grappling with several pressing questions: Why is a team found guilty of fielding ineligible players being granted a second chance? Is a rematch even constitutional under KSSSA rules? And, most crucially, is Kakamega being unfairly penalized for challenging the verdict?
In the meantime, Kakamega High insists that their players are legitimate and have invited the Supreme Jury to verify all student records through the KNEC portal.
“Our boys are already preparing for regionals. This case is about accountability, not just a rematch,” said Coach Oindo.
The rematch, scheduled for July 6, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., has now been called off after Kakamega’s no-show. It was meant to be held behind closed doors, with both schools covering their logistical costs and only fielding bona fide players.
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As of now, the situation remains unresolved, and unless the Supreme Jury intervenes swiftly, it could mark a pivotal moment in the governance of school football in Kenya. Kakamega High School remains firm in their decision not to play a rematch they deem unconstitutional.
On the other hand, Musingu’s Coach Josiah Mwinamo defended the jury’s ruling, stating that there was insufficient evidence from Kakamega, which led the jury to decide that the match should be replayed.
However, Kakamega Green Commandos have refused, pointing to an official letter already issued granting them the right to represent Kakamega County in the upcoming Western Region finals set to begin this wee
By Osborne Benn
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