How 2025 KSSSA National champions performed in Road to Thika
Reading Time: 4min | Tue. 14.07.26. | 17:02
As the road to Thika reaches its final stretch, several of last year's champions have successfully defended their regional crowns to keep their title dreams alive
Defending a national title in school sports is never guaranteed, and the journey to the 2026 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two Games has once again proved just how unforgiving the qualification process can be.
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As the road to Thika reaches its final stretch, several of last year's champions have successfully defended their regional crowns to keep their title dreams alive, while others have seen their reign come to an abrupt end long before the national championships.
Boys football
The biggest casualty has come in boys' football.
Defending national champions St. Joseph's Boys Kitale failed to make it beyond the Trans Nzoia County Championships after suffering defeat to arch-rivals St. Anthony's Kitale.
However, St. Anthony's also fell short of a place at the nationals after losing to Menengai High School in the semifinals of the Rift Valley Regional Championships.
Last year's national runners-up, Musingu High School, also saw their hopes of reclaiming the title dashed after a 2-0 defeat to 12-time national champions Kakamega School in the Western Region final.
The victory marked a significant milestone for Kakamega School, who will return to the national championships for the first time since winning the title in 2018 after beating Olbolosat School in the final at Hill School Eldoret.
Girls football
In the girls' football competition, defending champions Butere Girls also surrendered their regional crown after losing 2-1 to Archbishop Njenga Girls in the Western Region final.
Their 2025 national final opponents, Madira Girls, were eliminated even earlier after falling to the eventual regional champions in the semifinals, bringing an end to another impressive campaign.
Boys volleyball
The boys' volleyball competition has also witnessed a change of guard. Defending champions Cheptil High School successfully retained the Nandi County title but failed to book a return to the nationals after losing to Andersen Secondary School in the Rift Valley regional semifinals.
Andersen advanced to the final but were beaten by ACK Chepsaita Senior School, who produced a commanding 3-0 victory to lift the Rift Valley regional title and qualify for the national championships.
In the Western Region, last year's national runners-up, Malava Boys, booked another trip to the nationals after beating Chesamisi Boys in straight sets to claim the regional championship.
Girls volleyball
There was better news for the defending champions in girls' volleyball. Kwanthanze Secondary School continued their dominance by defeating Nduluni Secondary School 3-0 to successfully defend the Eastern Region title and qualify for another shot at the national crown.
National runners-up Kesogon Secondary School also maintained their impressive consistency, securing a fourth consecutive regional championship after beating Cheptalal Girls 3-0 to seal qualification for Thika.
Boys rugby 7s
The defending champions in boys' rugby sevens, St. Peter's Mumias, looked on course for another successful campaign after winning the Kakamega County title with a 14-7 victory over Mukumu Boys.
However, their run ended in the Western Region semifinals, where they suffered a narrow 12-7 defeat to Friends School Bokoli.
Bokoli went on to write history by defeating Butula Boys 14-0 in the final to win their maiden Western Region Rugby Sevens title, with both finalists earning qualification to the national championships.
Girls rugby 7s
In the girls' rugby sevens competition, defending champions Kinale Girls remain firmly on course to retain their national title after defeating Mahutia Girls to lift the Central Region championship and secure another appearance at the nationals.
Basketball 3x3
The picture is equally mixed in basketball 3x3.
Defending boys' champions Sigalame Secondary School successfully qualified for the national championships despite losing the Western Region final to Nambale Secondary School.
In the girls' competition, defending champions Buruburu Girls also qualified for the nationals despite surrendering the regional title to Olympic High School, who claimed the championship with a 10-5 victory in the final.
Last year's national runners-up, Tigoi Girls High School, also booked their place at the nationals after overcoming Cardinal Otunga Girls High School in the Western Region final.
With the regional championships now concluded in all the regions, the road to Thika has already claimed several defending champions while reaffirming the dominance of others.
As the national championships draw closer, only a handful of the 2025 winners remain in contention to defend their titles, setting the stage for another fiercely contested edition of the KSSSA Term Two Games.