The Ministry of Education (MoE) has officially introduced six new sporting disciplines into the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national competitions beginning with the Term Two 2026 games, in a move aimed at expanding opportunities for learners in co-curricular activities.
According to a circular dated May 21, 2026, and addressed to presidents and chief executive officers of various sports federations, the newly introduced games are lacrosse, cricket, baseball, beach volleyball, chess and scrabble.
The directive followed a consultative meeting held on May 13, 2026, between ministry of education officials, KSSSA representatives and leaders of the respective sports federations to deliberate on the organization and structure of the new disciplines.
Under the new framework, lacrosse, cricket and baseball will each field six boys’ teams and six girls’ teams during the national championships.
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Beach volleyball will feature one boys’ and one girls’ team from every region, bringing the total number of participating teams to 16.
Chess and scrabble competitions will each feature 12 boys’ teams and 12 girls’ teams selected from across the country.
The ministry directed the federations to organize preliminary competitions to determine the teams that will qualify for the national championships.
The federations will also be responsible for referees, transportation, accommodation logistics, discipline, and ensuring the availability of standard playing facilities and equipment.
Winners from the national competitions will proceed to represent Kenya at the East Africa Secondary Schools Games (FEASSSA), further opening regional exposure for young talents.
The move is expected to boost talent development and widen sporting opportunities in schools across the country.
By Philip Koech
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