Onjiko High football team banned for 3 years for fielding ineligible players
By Bosco Magare, July 2, 2025Onjiko Boys High School football team, has been banned for three years for fielding six ineligible players against Kisumu Boys (KB) during the Kisumu County Secondary Schools Ball Games, a decision that derails the replay of the county’s boys football final, leaving it hanging in the balance.
The school’s football team was handed the ban, after thorough investigations, ordered by the supreme jury of Kisumu County Secondary Schools Sports Association (KCSSSA), prompted by a petition by Kisumu Boys against Onjiko Boys, confirmed the school’s team had fielded six ineligible players against KB, during the two teams county group stage match.
According to details of a letter referenced CDE/KSM/ GA/8/1/ dated June 25, 2025 and signed by the County Director of Education ( CDE) Rosemary Birenge and a copy availed to People Sport on July 1, 2025, the investigations ordered by KCSSSA, established Onjiko Boys high school‘s football team, fielded six ineligible players against the KB side, during the year 2025 Kisumu county secondary schools, ball games.
In the letter, Kisumu CDE Birenge has identified the six ineligible players as Benedict Waswa bearing Admission (ADM) no.12518, Nhial Gai Reat- ADM no.13492, Ojiambo Frankline- ADM no. 12516, Brian James-ADM no.12440, Nanyanga Taberion- ADM no.12303 and Julius Onyango- ADM no. 12203.
Birenge further said, “The CDE office found out that Onjiko Boys High School violated the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) constitution and the KCSSSA rules of the tournament- rule number 11.
“Based on the KSSSA constitution section 17, which states that the reasons that warrant a team to be banned, it is evident that the Onjiko Boys High School violated Article a fielding of ineligible players during the 2025 KSSSA games, and hence culpable,” Birenge explained.
Birenge continued to state, “in line with the provisions in the KSSSA constitution section 17. Article (iii), (iv) and (vii), Onjiko Boys High School football team is consequently banned from participating in KSSSA games for 3 years, effective from June 25, 2025.”
The CDE Birenge said the import of the decision by the KCSSSA jury, banning Onjiko Boys, implies all earlier Kisumu county secondary schools ball games, boys football semi-final matches, that were played before the schools’ half-term break, late last month on June 21, are now null and void.
“The CDE’s office, in consultation with the KCSSSA office, will issue a directive on the next course of action,” Birenge said.
And, in a separate interview with People Sport, Agai mixed secondary school Principal Gordon Akoko said they expect arrangements to be made by KCSSSA for the boys’ football final to be replayed, once Kisumu Boys football team moves to court to reverse the team’s case against Onjiko Boys High School.
“Once Kisumu Boys football team withdraws the case the team filed against Onjiko Boys, then Kisumu county secondary schools ball games officials will hold a meeting to decide and schedule the boys football final replay against either Kisumu Day or Kisumu Boys,” Akoko explained.
The earlier county boys final game between Agai mixed secondary school and Onjiko played at Kisumu City’s Jomo Kenyatta stadium in the outskirts of Mamboleo, was abandoned after a regular time barren draw and proceeded to be decided through penalties, but aborted due to fading lights as Kisumu had equally appealed against Onjiko, during the semis and is still waiting for a ruling by the county games jury.