- The Rift Valley Regional Education Office has dismissed St Joseph Boys High School Kitale’s appeal over player eligibility.
- The ruling confirms St Anthony Boys High School as Trans Nzoia County’s representative at the Rift Valley Secondary Schools Games.
- The decision brings to an end a protracted dispute over the county football championship.
The long-running dispute over the Trans Nzoia County secondary schools football title has finally been settled after the Rift Valley Regional Education Office dismissed an appeal filed by St Joseph Boys High School Kitale.
The ruling clears St Anthony Boys High School to represent Trans Nzoia County at the forthcoming Rift Valley Secondary Schools Games in Narok.
St Joseph had appealed against a decision by the Trans Nzoia County Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Jury Committee, which had rejected its protest challenging the eligibility of a player fielded by St Anthony during the county football championships.
The national champions argued that the player was ineligible and sought to have St Anthony stripped of the county title.
However, after reviewing the complaint and supporting evidence, the county jury dismissed the protest and upheld St Anthony’s victory.
St Joseph subsequently escalated the matter to the Rift Valley Regional Education Office in a final attempt to overturn the county verdict before the regional championships.
According to sources familiar with the proceedings, the regional office upheld the county jury’s decision, effectively bringing the dispute to a close.
Focus shifts to Narok
The decision means St Anthony Boys High School will officially represent Trans Nzoia County at the Rift Valley Secondary Schools Games scheduled to take place in Narok.
The ruling is a significant boost for the Kitale-based football giants, one of Kenya’s most successful school football teams.
Over the years, St Anthony has won numerous national and East African titles while producing players who have gone on to feature for top clubs and national teams.
Eyes on regional glory
With the eligibility dispute resolved, attention now shifts to the competition on the pitch as schools from across the Rift Valley region battle for qualification to the national championships.
For St Joseph Boys High School Kitale, the ruling marks the end of a legal challenge that had raised hopes of reversing the county championship outcome.
Meanwhile, St Anthony heads to Narok with renewed confidence after its qualification was affirmed by both county and regional education authorities.
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The school will now seek to reclaim regional honours and secure a return to the national championships as it continues its rich football tradition.
By Jeff Kirui
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