Storm is brewing in Kakamega’s school football scene after defending champions Musingu Boys High School were stripped of their county title for fielding overage players against archrivals Kakamega School. 

This move has sparked fresh allegations of fraud, legal petitions and the suspension of regional games amid a deepening crisis in Kenya’s secondary school sports. 

The school now faces possible sanctions from the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSA).  

Musingu beat Kakamega School on penalties and went on to win the county boys’ football trophy with a 2-0 drubbing of Butere Boys in the final held at the Mumias Sports Complex a fortnight ago. 

However, their search for football glory (their first since 1984) has come under scrutiny for alleged deceit during the county games. 

On Friday, July 4, 2025, the county jury upheld an appeal and protest lodged by Kakamega School, citing the eligibility of four Musingu players who were later found to be overage. 

KSSA rules cap the age limit for participants at 19 years and prescribe a two-year ban for any school found culpable of violating eligibility guidelines.  

Players born after September 1, 2005, are ineligible to compete in the 2025 school games. 

The jury found that Musingu fielded four overage players, stripped them of the county title and awarded it to Butere Boys.  

However, in a surprise twist, the jury, chaired by county director of education Hellen Nyang’au, bent the rules, sparing Musingu from both disqualification and a ban, and instead ordered a rematch against Kakamega School. 

The verdict, signed by Nyang’au, claimed Kakamega School was equally guilty of fielding ineligible players in the same match, an allegation Kakamega School principal Dr Julius Mambili vehemently denied. 

“We’re pursuing this matter to restore sanity in school games. If indeed Kakamega fielded ineligible players, the honourable thing is to ban us,” Dr Mambili said.