Kenya’s universities shine with 55 gold medals at EAUG

Kenyan universities dominated the 13th Eastern Africa University Games (EAUG) hosted at Maseno University, securing a combined total of 55 gold medals. However, Uganda’s Ndejje University claimed the overall crown with an impressive 34 gold medals as a single university.

Amid the spirited competition, Kenya’s combined universities secured an impressive 55 gold medals, while Maseno University’s Julius Mpayan upheld the nation’s legacy by striking gold in the men’s 3,000m race, even as Ugandan athletes stole the show in long-distance events.

Final medal standings and results of the EAUG, held for the first time at Maseno University, were released at the weekend and shared with People Sport by the Federation of Eastern Africa University Sports (FEAUS) administrator Ivan Kisa. 

According to the EAUG medal standings, Uganda’s Ndejje University emerged top with 34 gold medals. Kenya’s United States International University Africa (USIU) secured second place with 15 gold medals, followed by Uganda Christian University (UCU) with 15 gold medals.

Makerere University finished fourth with 14 gold medals, while Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) was ranked fifth with 10 gold medals. 

Host Maseno University ranked sixth overall, bagging 8 gold medals.

They were followed by Uganda’s Gulu University, which also secured 8 gold medals but had fewer silver (5) and bronze (8) medals compared to Maseno’s tally of 10 silver and 22 bronze medals. 

Makerere University Business School took eighth place with seven gold medals, followed by Kenya’s Mount Kenya University (MKU) and Kenyatta University (KU), which each garnered 7 gold medals, closing the top 10 overall winners bracket out of 32 universities.

However, MKU and KU won fewer silver and bronze medals compared to Makerere University Business School. 

The games, organised by FEAUS in partnership with various Kenyan institutions, were hosted with support from Olympics Kenya, Mumboha Secondary School, Chulaimbo Boys Secondary, St Mary’s Yala, Kisumu Boys High School, and other partners such as Coca-Cola and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB). 

Athletics events were held at Moi Stadium in Kisumu, where Maseno University’s Mpayan bagged gold in the 3,000m race.

Edgar Nsimiramkama from Bishop Stuart University (BSU) finished second, timed at 8:39.9 seconds, while Kisii University’s Isaya Kiriago finished third at 8:48.0 seconds. Mpayan also claimed second place in the men’s 10,000m with a time of 31:45.5, behind the Ugandan winner. 

In other results, the men’s 5,000m was won by Akampu of BSU, clocking 14:46.8 seconds, while Marvellous Orishaba of Ndejje University clinched the women’s 5,000m title in 18:02.6 seconds.

The 800m men’s and women’s races were also dominated by Ugandan athletes, with BSU’s Peter Akemkwene and Orishaba claiming the titles, respectively. 

Kenyan athletes excelled in short and middle-distance races.

MKU’s Godwin Ochieng won the men’s 100m hurdles in 16.2 seconds, while Denis Ngetich claimed the 100m sprint with a time of 10.6 seconds. 

Overall, Ndejje University emerged as the athletics champion with 10 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze medals.

Uganda Christian University followed with 14 medals, while Gulu University bagged 15 medals. 

During the closing ceremony, Maseno University vice-chancellor Prof Julius Nyabundi, represented by acting deputy vice-chancellor Prof Erick Nyambedha, lauded FEAUS for granting Maseno the rights to host the event.

He also commended the organising committee and the County Government of Kisumu for their support in preparing the venues and ensuring the success of the games.