- KSSSA has intensified eligibility checks ahead of the National Secondary School Games, flagging suspected irregularities including overage players, forged documents, and transfer rule breaches.
- Archbishop Njenga Girls (football) and Malava Boys (volleyball) were cited for anomalies, while Kakamega High School’s football team was cleared.
- The ongoing audit underscores KSSSA’s commitment to fair play, transparency, and strict enforcement of eligibility rules to safeguard the credibility of school sports.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) has intensified its player eligibility verification exercise ahead of the National Secondary School Games, with preliminary assessments flagging several schools over alleged registration and eligibility irregularities.
The ongoing nationwide audit is aimed at safeguarding the integrity of school sports by ensuring that only eligible student-athletes participate in the national championships.
According to the preliminary verification report, several schools have been cited for suspected breaches of KSSSA regulations, including allegations of overage players, forged birth certificates, inconsistencies in admission records, fictitious admission numbers and violations of the mandatory 90-day transfer rule.
In girls’ football, Archbishop Njenga Girls High School was among the schools flagged after several players were questioned over their eligibility. The report cites alleged forged birth certificate details, an overage player and inconsistencies in admission records, with the cases set for further review.
In boys’ volleyball, Malava Boys High School also came under scrutiny after multiple players were flagged over alleged documentation anomalies. The preliminary findings point to suspected falsified birth certificates, multiple birth certificate records, inconsistent admission details and possible breaches of player registration procedures.
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The report further recommends that the relevant sports authorities consider replacing the team if the findings are upheld, while also calling for an audit of the school’s admission register and investigations into the alleged forgery of government-issued documents.
On a positive note, Kakamega High School received a clean bill of health after its boys’ football team was cleared during the verification exercise.
KSSSA has emphasised that the verification process is still ongoing and that the findings released so far remain preliminary.
“The National KSSSA player eligibility verification process is progressing smoothly. Preliminary assessments indicate that several schools may be found non-compliant with the established registration and eligibility regulations,” the association said in a statement.
The association added that the verification exercise is yet to be concluded, with the relevant authorities expected to determine the appropriate action against any school found to have contravened KSSSA registration and eligibility rules.
The exercise underscores KSSSA’s renewed commitment to fair competition, transparency and strict enforcement of eligibility regulations as teams prepare for the National Secondary School Games.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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