Concerns about integrity are also rampant in Narok County, where the misuse of school sports programs, specifically the fielding of non-students.
The verdict on the outcome of the abandoned high-stakes semi-final match between St Joseph’s Boys High School and St Anthony’s Boys High School is expected after the school half-term break, a top official with the Trans Nzoia County Games Organising Committee has revealed.
This is among several troubled matches at the games that saw a huge turnout of spectators.
The match between St Joseph’s and St Anthony’s was stopped in the 82nd minute with St Joseph trailing 3-2 after a disputed penalty sparked a protest. St Anthony had earlier scored two penalties—one in each half—before the chaos ensued.
In response, the Games Committee and the County Education Office constituted a special investigative panel to probe the incident and other acts of misconduct that marred this year’s county games.
“We are taking this matter very seriously and have gathered detailed reports from all parties involved, including match officials, school principals, and security personnel,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
“The committee’s priority is to ensure a fair and thorough investigation before making any final decisions.”
We urge all stakeholders to remain patient as we work towards restoring order and integrity to the games.”
He added that the panel is committed to transparency and fairness and will uphold the values of sportsmanship and discipline that school games are meant to promote.
The sports official cited cheating and fan indiscipline as major contributors to the suspension of high school games in the county. He noted that several schools were disqualified from participating due to various offences, reinforcing the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the management of school sports.
The most notable logistical disruption occurred at Kwanza Girls High School, which had been slated to host the hotly anticipated semi-final match between arch-rivals county and Rift-Valley region defending champions, St Joseph Boys 'Jobo and former national champions, St Anthony Boys ‘Solidarity Boys’, on Friday.
However, the large crowd turnout overwhelmed the venue’s capacity, prompting organisers to shift the match to Ndura Sports Complex in Kitale for safety and crowd control reasons.
The panel is also reviewing a separate semi-final between Goseta Boys and Bwake Boys, which descended into chaos after a fan invaded the pitch and assaulted a Goseta player.
Police were forced to fire warning shots to disperse the crowd.
In another incident, the volleyball final between defending champions Andersen Boys and St Anthony Boys was cancelled due to crowd trouble.
Meanwhile, technical glitches in the player registration portal led to the disqualification of Endebess Centre and Kolongolo High School—further inflaming tensions.
Although the Trans-Nzoia County Secondary School Games aim to nurture talent and promote discipline, this year’s edition has been filled with controversy and disorder.
Stakeholders are now urging the education ministry and games committees to enforce stricter rules and enhance crowd control measures.
and overhaul the registration system to avoid future disruptions.
In Narok County, similar concerns have emerged. Jacob Barusei, Secretary of the Narok County Secondary School Sports
The association called on teachers and coaches to uphold honesty and prioritise mentorship over shortcuts, noting that the misuse of school sports programs undermines student morale and wastes government resources.
Barusei decried the rising trend of schools fielding non-students —commonly referred to as ‘mamluki’—in pursuit of unfair advantages.
“These games are designed to empower and uplift students. It is disheartening to see some schools focusing on winning by any means, including bringing in non-students,” said Barusei.
He emphasised that the issue is not just about rule-breaking but about fairness.
“Imagine a student who has trained for months, only to be benched because a non-student has taken their place. That is both unethical and emotionally damaging.”
KSSSA regulations stipulate that only registered students aged 20 and below are eligible to compete.
As scrutiny on school competitions intensifies, education and sports officials are pushing for stronger vetting systems, stricter disciplinary action, and a renewed commitment to fair play—so that every deserving student gets a chance to shine.
