KAKAMEGA – Kakamega School has been awarded a favorable ruling after successfully protesting the eligibility of several Butere Boys High School players who featured during the 2026 Kakamega County Secondary School Games.
The decision by the games jury comes after Kakamega School presented documentary evidence alleging that a number of Butere Boys players were ineligible under the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) regulations governing age, identity, transfers, and class repetition.
The ruling overturns the earlier outcome that had seen Butere Boys crowned county football champions after defeating Musingu High School 5-4 on post-match penalties following a goalless draw in the final.
Tournament Journey
Kakamega School enjoyed an impressive run throughout the tournament. They began the competition by defeating eventual finalists Butere Boys 1-0 in the group stage before thrashing Sirigoi Boys 7-0 to finish strongly in the preliminary round.
In the quarterfinals, Kakamega produced another dominant display, beating Mukumu Boys 4-0 to book a semifinal clash against Musingu High School.
However, their title hopes suffered a setback after a 2-0 defeat to Musingu in the semifinals. Kakamega later bounced back to defeat Tande Secondary School in the third-place playoff, securing a podium finish.
Meanwhile, Butere Boys had edged Tande 1-0 in the other semifinal before overcoming Musingu on penalties to lift the county title before the protest was determined.
Evidence Presented Against Butere Boys
According to documents submitted before the games jury, Kakamega School challenged the eligibility of six Butere Boys players.
The evidence included:
- Bonphas Ingwe – Alleged to have been born in 2004, with Index Number 37608003361, raising concerns over age eligibility.
- Collins Luvisia – Reportedly born in June 2006, with Birth Certificate Number 069182086.
- Moses Mwawara – Allegedly born in 2005, with Index Number 37608003400.
- Ian Philip Omukoko – Kakamega alleged that the player was presented as Ian Odenyi in the competition portal. The protest stated that details appearing on the FIFA Connect registration and the player’s birth certificate differed from the information submitted by Butere Boys.
- Elvis Sikolia – The protest claimed the player had transferred from Tande Secondary School during the third week of January 2026, contrary to the applicable 90-day transfer rule. A class register from Tande Secondary School was submitted as part of the supporting evidence.
- Domnic Murusa – Kakamega alleged that the player was competing during a repeat academic year. Documents presented indicated that Murusa played for Highway Secondary School as a Form Three student in 2025. Kakamega further submitted Highway Secondary School’s team list and class register, alleging that the same player was again registered as a Form Three student at Butere Boys in 2026.
Awaiting Official Communication
The jury found in favour of Kakamega School following the presentation of the evidence. The decision is expected to have significant implications for the final standings of the county football championship and qualification for the regional games.
Neither Butere Boys High School nor the Kakamega County Secondary Schools Sports Association had publicly commented on the ruling at the time of publication.
The case once again highlights the importance of strict adherence to KSSSA regulations on player eligibility, age verification, school transfers, and student registration to ensure fair competition in school sports.