There will be no hiding place for age cheats in school games

The 2025 Brookside Secondary Schools national Term One games that ended on Saturday in Mombasa will go down as one of the most memorable events in the history of school games.

From a foolproof verification system that ensured that only cleared students were allowed to play, to last year’s winners retaining and losing their titles and debutants making a mark on their first national appearance, the games were a complete package that in the end, gave birth to future stars.

The Ministry of Education and Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) introduced stringent measures to curb any form of cheating in the games in a bid to ensure that only students participate in the games.

The student authentication process included tracing them from their primary schools using their Unique Personal Identifier (UPI), their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) index numbers, Form One admission numbers and dates as well as birth certificates for Kenyan students.

International students were required to provide proof that they are indeed students in their respective schools having gone through the legit immigration and registration process allowing them to live and study in Kenya.  

KSSSA Secretary General David Ngugi said the new verification system is meant to restore the integrity of the games, protect the students and completely root out any form of cheating.

“This is the system we will be using going forward because we want to protect genuine students sealing all loopholes because we have zero tolerance towards cheating,” Ngugi said.

Rift Valley Region bagged the overall trophy after garnering 95 points, seven more than Western, who finished second with 88 points.

Nyanza were third with 67, five more than fourth-placed Nairobi, who amassed 62.

The hosts Coast regions settled for fifth place with 58 points, Eastern, Central and North Eastern finishing sixth, seventh and eighth with 54, 44 and seven points respectively.

Rift Valley dominated in athletics for another year, winning both girls and boys contests.

The boys were no match for their peers winning most of the track and field events to garner 245 points with their closest challenger Nyanza coming in second with 140 points.

Western finished third with 115 points, whereas Eastern was fourth with 106 points.

Central was fifth with 89 as homeboys finished sixth with Nairobi and North Eastern finishing seventh and eighth with 23 and one point.

In the girls' contest, the order remained the same with Rift Valley carrying the day with 241 points. Nyanza were second with 154 points, Western third (142), Eastern fourth (88), Central fifth (70), Coast sixth (59), Nairobi seventh (19) with North Eastern finishing eighth with no point.

Vihiga High School’s decision to move out of their comfort zone paid off with a rugby 15s national gong.

Vihiga, who’s forte has been rugby Sevens, where they won silver at the national games and gold at last year's East Africa games, risked it all by putting their success in the shorter version of the game on the line to chase rugby 15s glory.

The Western boys beat Kisii School 14-5 in the final to lift the trophy. Vihiga’s Alvin Shikanga was all smiles as he was emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Last year’s winner All Saints Embu took bronze after beating 2018 national and East Africa champions Upper Hill 19-5 in the third-place play-off duel.

Dr Aggrey and All Saints were the only casualties as last year’s champions retained their titles.

Butere Girls Cannons once again hit former national and East Africa champions Kaya Tiwi where it hurts most to secure their third gong in a row.

Kaya Tiwi were dejected after failing to overcome the Cannons on their home turf with hundreds of fans rallying behind them.

Kaya Tiwi, who lost their title to Butere in 2023, played second fiddled to the Western girls after succumbing to a 53-76 defeat.

St Joseph’s Girls High School Kitale completed the podium after edging out Nairobi’s Olympic High School 48-43 in the play-off. Butere’s Mary Amimo bagged the girls' MVP award.

Western region, known for its prowess in team sports, showed who is the boss by winning most of the titles.

Western retained boys and girls’ handball and hockey trophies after outclassing their opponents.

Moi Girls Kamusinga burst into song and dance after beating St Joseph’s Kitale 24-14 to retain their title.

This is the first time that Kamusinga, who have played at every national since 2012, won a trophy in Mombasa.

In 2017 and 2019, they came to the Coast as champions but left downtrodden after losing their titles to St Anne’s Sega and St Joseph’s Kirandich respectively.

However this year, the gods of handball finally gave them the nod and they emerged victorious. Kamusinga’s Brigid Barasa took home the MVP's award after helping her side retain their title. Dagoretti Mixed edged newbies Kadika Girls 25-24 to snatch bronze.

Western stamped authority in handball with St Luke’s Kimilili also retaining their trophy following a convincing 35-18 win against Rift Valley rivals St Albert Kamito.

Kamito returned to the games after a two-year ban. Newcomers Highway Secondary School also gave a good account of themselves after dismissing regulars Manyatta High School from Nyanza 21-15 to completed the podium.

In hockey, Western’s Musingu High School and Tigoi Girls firmed grip on their gongs. Musingu edged out record East Africa champions St Anthony’s Boys High School Kitale 1-0 in a tightly contested final to win their third title in a row.

Tigoi Girls on the other hand beat East Africa champions St Joseph’s Kitale 3-2 to secure their second national trophy.

Kelvin Onyango of St Anthony’s Kitale and Monica Kwekwe of St John’s Kaloleni won the boys and girls MVP awards.

St Charles Lwanga and novices Ng’iya Girls took the boys and girls bronze medals respectively. St Charles beat Mpesa Foundation Academy 2-0 whereas Ng’iya defeated Mwiki Secondary School 1-0 in third-place play-offs.

Nairobi’s Curtis Kamotho from Strathmore School and Macrine Kalombo from Makini School won the boys and girls best swimmers awards respectively.