Vihiga School crowned kings as secondary school games light up Mombasa

The Brookside KSSSA National Secondary School Games concluded in thrilling fashion at Shimo La Tewa Secondary School, with Vihiga High School stealing the spotlight as the new rugby kings of Kenya.

Vihiga delivered a clinical performance to dethrone Kisii School in a tense final, clinching the national rugby title with a 14-6 win. The boys from Western Kenya opened the scoring with an early penalty, but Kisii responded with two penalties of their own to lead 6-3 at halftime.

But after the break, Vihiga turned up the heat. Two rapid-fire penalties restored their lead to 9-6, and a late try sealed the deal — crowning them the 2025 Brookside KSSSA Rugby champions, unbeaten throughout the tournament.

“We had a good tournament. It was tough, and the standard this year has been high,” said Vihiga Head Coach Abdallah Abubakar.

 “Now it’s all about getting physically ready for the East Africa Games. We’re the hosts, and we must defend this title at home.”

In the boys' basketball showdown, Laiser Hill staged a dramatic finish to snatch a 71-69 victory over defending champions Dr Aggrey.

Laiser came out firing, dominating the first quarter 24-12, only to see their lead vanish after a 24-11 second-quarter loss. The third quarter remained razor-tight, with Dr Aggrey edging it 16-15, but it was Laiser’s final-quarter grit (21-17) that delivered the trophy.

Head coach Eric Mutoro was full of praise for his players. “Dr Aggrey pushed us to the limit — they’re a strong team — but my boys stood tall and showed championship mentality.”

In the girls' basketball final, Butere Girls proved they’re still the team to beat, clinching a third straight title with a dominant 76-53 win over Kaya Tiwi.

Butere led from start to finish, taking the first three quarters 15-10, 23-17, and 25-11, before easing off in the final period, which they lost 15-3. The early fireworks were more than enough to secure their crown once again.

Western region teams flexed their muscle in the handball finals, reclaiming both boys’ and girls’ titles in emphatic fashion.

In the boys’ final, Kimilili Boys reminded everyone why they’re the defending champions, blowing past Kamito from Rift Valley 35-18. Captain Emanuel Chesebe summed it up perfectly: “We played well in the finals, and that shows that we are champions for a reason.”

Highway High clinched third place after a 21-15 victory over Manyatta from Eastern.

In the girls’ category, Moi Girls Kamusinga stamped their authority with a 24-14 win over St Joseph Kitale. Meanwhile, Dagoretti Mixed edged Kadika 25-24 in a thrilling third-place playoff.

It was a nervy finish in the girls’ hockey final as Tigoi Girls fought tooth and nail to retain their national title with a dramatic 3-2 win over St Joseph Girls Kitale.

Salome Anyango emerged the hero, slotting in the winner in the 50th minute to send the Tigoi fans into wild celebration.

In boys finals, Musingu High School retained their trophy after a narrow 1-0 win against stubborn St Anthony Kitale.

The Brookside KSSSA National Games once again delivered passion, drama, and unforgettable sporting moments. With the East Africa School Games around the corner, the champions now turn their eyes to regional dominance.