Kenyans wrestle back overall East Africa gong from Ugandans

Hosts Kenya bagged 63 medals to recapture the overall East Africa title from Ugandans who had dominated the games since the 2019 edition held in Arusha, Tanzania.

The home boys and girls staged brilliant performances at the games that have been rebranded Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) for inclusivity.

Initially started for secondary school students, they have been expanded to include primary schools as well as Special Needs Education (SNE) learners from the region.

Kenya garnered 21 gold, 24 silver and 18 bronze medals to be crowned overall champions with their closest challengers Uganda bagging 16 gold, 15 silver and 17 bronze for a total of 48 medals.

Just like previous championships, the battle for the country gong was a two-horse race between Kenya and Uganda with the hosts fighting their hearts out to end four years of pain at the hands of the Ugandans.

In the secondary Schools category, Uganda emerged tops after winning 15 gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze. Kenya was second with 13 gold, 16 silver and 13 bronze medals. Rwanda completed the top three with two gold, a silver and a bronze medal.

Tanzania was fourth with three bronze medals while Burundi settled for two bronze medals. Guest participants Ivory Coast did not win any medals.

The Kenyan seniors lost three trophies they won in Mbale, Uganda. The Ugandans snatched the boys’ hockey, basketball 3X3 and girls’ rugby 7s titles. However, they also reclaimed the boys volleyball title and the handball trophies.

Kakungulu Memorial snatched the boys hockey title that had been won by Musingu High School last year after finishing on top of the table with 19 points from six wins and a draw.

Record East Africa winners St Anthony’s Boys High School Kitale took silver with 17 points whereas St Charles Lwanga settled for bronze with 14.

St Joseph’s Girls High School Kitale (JOGA) was among the few champions from last year’s games who successfully defended their titles. JOGA extended their hockey reign after dominating the girls round robin contest to top the table with 19 points.

National champions Friends School Tigoi once again failed to bag their maiden East Africa title but upgraded to silver from their 2024 bronze. Debutants Ng’iya Girls completed the podium after finished third with 15 points, one less than Tigoi.

Rookies Mwiki Secondary School also had a good outing despite missing a medal. Brian Anzeze of Musingu and Mwiki’s Elen Akinyi bagged the boys and Girls Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards respectively.

Schools’ volleyball queens Kwanthanze Secondary School and Cheptil High School reclaimed their titles after triumphing in their respective finals. Kwanthanze dethroned local rivals Kesogon Mixed Secondary School after coming from a set down to beat them 3-1(23-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-18) in the final. This was the fourth consecutive East Africa final between the two sides.

Kwanthanze have triumphed in three out of the four meetings. Team coach Justin Kigwari said that they had to work harder after losing their trophy last year.

“It was not easy achieving this feat. We had to put in more effort after last year’s games because the standards have improved and teams are also preparing well,” Kigwari said.

Cheptil were crowned champions after outlasting Uganda’s Namugongo Vocational College in a five-set thriller. Namugongo’s Wiliam Opoya and Mercile Nabwile of Kwanthanze were voted MVPs.

Kenya also won gold in both boys and girls’ handball, rugby 15s, boys rugby 7s, athletics boys and girls and girls’ tennis. Kenyans also topped the primary schools ranking with six gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

Uganda was second with one gold, two silver and one bronze whereas Tanzania completed the top three with two silver medals and a bronze.

Tanzania dominated the SNE category with three gold medals, Kenya was second with two gold and five silver while Uganda finished third with five bronze medals.