- Kinale Girls Senior School heads to Tanzania after winning Kenya’s national rugby 15s and sevens titles.
- The Kiambu school is now targeting East African glory after establishing itself as a force in girls’ rugby.
- Despite its success, the team continues to rely on borrowed transport, prompting an appeal for a school bus.
Kinale Girls Senior School have conquered Kenya. Now they want East Africa.
The Lari-based Kiambu school will fly the Kenyan flag in Tanzania after sweeping the national rugby titles in both 15s and sevens, a remarkable double that has put the institution at the centre of Kenya’s schoolgirls’ rugby scene.
The girls will also represent Kenya in discus throw after finishing second nationally, giving the school a second route to regional honours.
But as the champions prepare for the trip, the school faces an embarrassing challenge: it has no bus to transport its teams.
Captain Juliet Amina told Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi that the players have often depended on borrowed buses to travel to competitions.
She appealed to the county government and well-wishers to help the school acquire a bus, saying reliable transport would ease one of the biggest obstacles facing the team.
“Sometimes people take pity on us and give us their buses to travel with,” Ms Amina said.
The champions had arrived for their meeting with the governor in a borrowed bus, underscoring the transport problem confronting a school that has emerged as a national sporting powerhouse.
The captain, however, promised that the team would repay the support by fighting for the East African crown.
“We will make sure that we become the East African champions,” she said.
Kinale’s rise to national glory
Kinale’s rise has been built on persistence.
The school lost to Uganda’s Joga side last year but returned stronger this season, eliminating its rivals on the road to the national championship.
The breakthrough has been particularly significant in rugby 15s, which the school embraced this year.
Principal Simiyu said the institution had spent years developing a culture of sporting excellence, with teams competing in netball, football, handball, athletics and rugby.
Kinale finished second nationally in rugby in 2024 before consolidating its position among the country’s top school teams.
This year, the girls went one step further, winning the national rugby 15s title and retaining the rugby sevens crown.
The achievement has earned them a chance to test themselves against the best teams in the region.
Governor Wamatangi congratulated the players and said their achievement had given Kiambu a new source of pride.
He told the girls that their success was evidence of the wealth of talent in the county and urged them to approach the Tanzanian assignment with confidence.
The governor said he had made time to meet the team after school officials appealed for an opportunity for the champions to receive encouragement before travelling.
The players were also reminded that regional competitions could expose them to scouts looking for young talent.
For Kinale, however, the immediate challenge is to ensure the champions get to Tanzania in the best possible conditions.
Champions without a school bus
The principal said the school had previously relied on an ageing truck to transport students and teams, but it was eventually grounded after failing inspection.
The truck is now used to ferry firewood.
Finding buses for competitions has since become a recurring struggle, with the school forced to borrow or hire vehicles at short notice.
Kinale’s success extends beyond rugby.
Its discus throw representative will also carry Kenya’s hopes in Tanzania after finishing second at the national championships.
School officials believe the achievements demonstrate the potential of Kiambu’s young athletes if they receive adequate facilities, equipment and logistical support.
The girls now face their biggest test yet.
READ ALSO: Team Kenya flagged off for 2026 FEASSSA Games in Tanzania
Having conquered Kenya in two rugby disciplines, Kinale are setting their sights on the East African title.
By Felix Wanderi
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
