NAIROBI, Kenya, February 28 – The battle for top honors at this year’s Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) has intensified with the nominees in the schools’ category whittled down to five.
The awards sponsored by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA), Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS), Safaricom PLC and Sanlam Assurance will be held on Friday evening at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.
The school’s category returns to the awards having last featured in the 2019 edition.
The inclusion of the category has kindled excitement, anxiety and high expectations as teachers, learners, parents and all education stakeholders wait with bated breath for the crowning moment.
Butere Girls, Kesogon, St Joseph’s Kitale, Kwanthanze and Nyamira Girls made the cut thanks to their brilliance during last year’s games.
The red commandos of Butere made a comeback to the national games after many years in the cold due to stiff competition in the Western region.
They made a good account of themselves edging out former national and East Africa champions Wiyeta 1-0 to snatch the national trophy.
Kesogon Secondary School showed that they were no pushovers when they outclassed Africa schools’ champions Kwanthanze 3-1 to snatch national bragging rights.
They achieved this feat on their second appearance having settled for silver in 2022.
Kwanthanze on the other hand proved that they are indeed a cut above the rest when they conquered Africa during the games played in Rabat, Morocco.
They made light work of their hosts Lycee Bin Anzarane dismissing them in straight sets of 25-15, 25-10 and 25-16 to lift the continental gong.
Despite having lost their national crown, they put up a spirited fight to retain their East Africa title when they triumphed against Kesogon in a five-set thriller staged at PSVF Karubanda grounds in Huye, Rwanda.
This was Kwanthanze’s seventh. Thei exploits earned them a slot in the international school’s volleyball championship to be held in April.
Nyamira from Siaya County remain in the race for the prestigious award having ended their 32-year wait for the national trophy.
They had a memorable year which also saw wrestle the East Africa title from Uganda’s Kakungulu Memorial to bag their maiden regional trophy.
St Joseph’s Girls High School Kitale completes the top five having excelled in handball. They dethroned former East Africa title holders Moi Girls Kamusinga.
In the boys contest, national and East Africa rugby 7s champions Koyonzo Secondary, East Africa volleyball champions Namwela and national winners St Anthony’s Boys High School Kitale, Butula Boys and Onjiko are the last five standing.
Coming from the talent rich Western region, Koyonzo had a very successful year outshining their opponents such as Kakamega High School and St Peter’s Mumias to be crowned champions at all levels of competition.
Butula rose to fame and entered the history books as the first team from Busia County to not only win the national rugby 15s title but to also qualify for the games.
Busia schools had been overshadowed by their Kakamega and Bungoma counterparts.
Butula which is under the tutelage of former St Peter’s Mumias tactician Shimenga Livondo won silver at the East Africa games. St Anthony’s Solidarity Boys and Onjiko’s basketball 3X3 side remain in the race for the accolade having won the national trophies.
Namwela were Kenya’s surprise package at the East Africa games having travelled as the third team following the Ministry of Education and Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) decision to field three teams in every sport.
Under the guidance of their school bus driver-cum-coach Isaac Muresia, Namwela swept aside their opponents one by one to bid the trophy and secure their ticket to the International Schools Sports Federation (ISF) World School Volleyball Championship to be held from April 19 to 29 in Belgrade, Serbia.
Kwanthanze volleyball coach Justine Kigwari, Namwela’s Isaac Muresia, Nyamira’s Stephen Kigai, Peter Mayoyo of St Anthony’s and Koyonzo’s Eliud Okwemba will battle it out for the School Coach of the Year accolade.
The race is tightly contested among the five tacticians who all boast of leading their sides to success.
Kigwari will be eying his second SOYA award while the rest are hoping to secure their first.
Top five shortlist
Girls School Team of the Year
Butere Girls (Football)
Kesogon (Volleyball)
St Joseph’s Kitale (Handball)
Kwanzanthe (Volleyball)
Nyamira Girls (Hockey)
Boys School Team of the Year
Namwela (Volleyball)
Koyonzo (Rugby 7S)
Onjiko (Basketball 3X3)
St Anthony’s Kitale (Football)
Butula (Rugby 15s)
Schools Coach of the Year
Justin Kigwari (Kwanzanthe)
Peter Mayoyo (St Anthony’s)
Stephen Kigai (Nyamira Girls)
Isaac Muresia (Namwela)
Eliud Okwemba (Koyonzo)
