SCHOOL GAMES: Everything you need to know about Term One action
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 26.03.26. | 15:14
The tournament will be staged across multiple venues within the city to accommodate the packed schedule
Kisumu City will take centre stage in school sports as it hosts the 2026 KSSSA Term One National Games from Sunday, 5 to Sunday, 12 April, bringing together the country’s top secondary school teams.
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Organised under the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), the championships will feature rugby 15s, hockey, basketball 5x5, handball, swimming, and athletics, with teams from all regions converging in Nyanza for national honours and a chance to qualify for the East Africa Games.
The tournament will be staged across multiple venues within the city to accommodate the packed schedule.
Hockey will be played at Kisumu Day High School, Rugby 15s will be played at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium, Mamboleo, and Kisumu Polytechnic, Basketball 5x5 and Handball will be staged at Kisumu Polytechnic, Athletics (including heptathlon, decathlon, cross country) will be at Kisumu Boys High School, while Swimming will be at the Aga Khan Educational Centre
Accommodation will see girls housed at St Theresa’s Girls Kisumu, while boys will camp at Kisumu Boys High School, placing athletes at the heart of the action.
Western, Rift Valley, and Nyanza lead the charge coming into the 2026 edition. Western Region remains a key talking point despite a shake-up during the qualifiers.
Traditionally dominant with 2025 champions in rugby (Vihiga), hockey (Musingu and Tigoi), handball (Kimilili and Moi Girls Kamusinga), and basketball (Butere Girls), Western still sends a strong contingent, albeit with new representatives in some categories.
In rugby, Bungoma High School will carry Western’s hopes following the elimination of defending champions Vihiga High at the regional stage.
They are joined by strong contenders such as former champions All Saints Embu, St Mary’s Yala, Kisii School, Upper Hill, and Mang’u High School, highlighting the depth across regions.
Rift Valley remains a formidable force, led by defending basketball boys’ champions Laiser Hill Academy, while Coast teams like Dr Aggrey and Kaya Tiwi return with a proven pedigree after reaching the podium in 2025.
Hosts Nyanza will look to capitalise on home advantage, with teams such as Kisumu Day, Ng’iya Girls, and Agoro Sare expected to draw strong local support.
Hockey once again shapes up as one of the most competitive disciplines.
Western champions Friends School Kamusinga arrive at the nationals following a dramatic and controversial regional final win over Musingu.
Their qualification was confirmed after an appeal by Musingu over player eligibility was dismissed, clearing the way for Kamusinga’s return to nationals for the first time since 2022.
They are joined by Nairobi champions Hospital Hill High School, who enter the tournament with renewed ambition after gaining valuable experience from last year’s debut, and Coast heavyweights St Charles Lwanga, who have built a reputation for consistency and depth in both boys’ and girls’ categories.
In the girls’ competition, defending national champions Tigoi Girls return alongside former champions Nyamira Girls, who are back after missing out in 2025.
Nyamira’s resurgence adds another layer to an already competitive field that includes St. Joseph’s Kitale, Mwiki Secondary, and AIC Nyayo, the dominant force from the Eastern Region.
In basketball, Laiser Hill will be seeking to defend their boys’ title, but face strong opposition from Dagoretti High, Dr Aggrey, and Friends School Kamusinga.
The girls’ category sees defending champions Butere Girls return alongside Kaya Tiwi, Moi Girls Nairobi, and Loreto Limuru, all of whom have shown consistency at both regional and national levels.
Handball continues to showcase Western’s strength, with Musingu High School and Moi Girls Kamusinga among the teams to watch. However, challengers such as Highway Secondary, St Joseph’s Kitale, and Kenyatta Mwatate are expected to test that dominance.
Beyond the titles, the KSSSA Term One Games remain a crucial platform for talent identification and development, with many players using the stage as a springboard to club, national, and international careers.
With pools drawn, teams confirmed, and venues set, Kisumu is ready to host what promises to be a fiercely contested national championship.