- Five defending champions have failed to qualify for this year’s KSSSA National Term Two Games, guaranteeing new winners in several disciplines.
- The unexpected exits have thrown the title races wide open, giving emerging schools their best chance to claim national honours.
- The championship at M-PESA Foundation Academy will also determine Kenya’s representatives to the East African Secondary Schools Games.
The 2026 KCB Group Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two Games are set to usher in a new era of school sports, with five major titles guaranteed to change hands after several defending champions failed to qualify for this year’s national championships.
Scheduled to take place at the M-PESA Foundation Academy in Thika, the week-long competition will bring together Kenya’s top secondary school teams in football, volleyball, basketball, hockey, netball, rugby and handball.
Unlike previous editions, where defending champions arrived determined to retain their crowns, this year’s championship promises fresh champions in several disciplines, making it one of the most unpredictable tournaments in recent history.
Football giants miss out
The biggest talking point ahead of the games is the absence of girls’ football champions Butere Girls High School, popularly known as the Red Commandos.
The Kakamega-based side has established itself as one of Kenya’s most successful school football teams, consistently dominating national competitions while producing players who have progressed to national youth teams and the Kenya Women’s Premier League.
However, the defending champions failed to qualify through the regional championships, leaving the girls’ football title race wide open.
Sports analysts believe their absence significantly changes the competition, with several regional champions now viewing this year’s tournament as their best opportunity to lift the coveted trophy.
The boys’ football championship has also been reshaped by the absence of defending champions St. Joseph’s Boys High School, Kitale—popularly known as JOBO or the Brown Saints.
The Trans Nzoia football powerhouse has enjoyed remarkable success at both the national and East African levels, making its failure to qualify one of the biggest surprises of the season.
Without JOBO, several schools that have repeatedly fallen short against the Kitale giants now have an opportunity to pursue their first national title.
New champions guaranteed
The boys’ volleyball competition will also crown a new champion after Cheptil Secondary School failed to secure qualification for the national finals.
Their exit has created an opportunity for traditional volleyball powerhouses and emerging teams alike to battle for national supremacy.
In boys’ handball, defending champions St. Luke’s Kimilili Boys Senior School will also be absent after being eliminated by Musingu Boys Senior School during the Western Region championships.
Their elimination has further intensified expectations of a highly competitive tournament.
The netball championship has experienced a similar shake-up following the failure of defending champions Oyugi Ogango Girls to qualify, ending their reign before the national competition begins.
The absence of five defending champions reflects the growing competitiveness of secondary school sports across Kenya.
Regional championships have become increasingly competitive as counties invest more in sports infrastructure, coaching and talent development.
Schools are also strengthening scouting programmes and nurturing young talent from junior schools, steadily narrowing the gap between traditional giants and emerging institutions.
The result is a qualification process in which previous success no longer guarantees a return to the national stage.
Battle for East African tickets
This year’s championships are expected to produce new rivalries, emerging stars and memorable performances as schools seek to establish themselves among the country’s elite.
Outstanding players will also have an opportunity to impress national selectors, with the tournament serving as the final selection platform for teams that will represent Kenya at the East African Secondary Schools Games.
With the countdown to the championship entering its final days, excitement continues to build among schools, fans and sports stakeholders across the country.
The absence of five reigning champions has created one of the most open title races in recent memory, raising a compelling question: which schools will seize the moment and write a new chapter in KSSSA history?
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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