What has traditionally been a key developmental platform for young talent—the secondary school games—is under severe tests of credibility ahead of the 2024 Secondary School Games. The 2024 Secondary School Games are awash with claims of cheating that cast dark aspersions on the credibility of coaches and teachers tasked with grooming young athletes. Those entrusted to uphold the system are seemingly out to undermine it.
Prestige and Pressure Drive Misconduct
Although the Ministry of Education does not attach any financial incentives for winning such championships, the accompanying prestige has been enough to drive some school principals to do whatever it takes to win. It has emerged that the need to win at all costs just to enhance the institution’s morale through extra-curricular brilliance, seems to have created a myriad of unethical practices. Coaches and teachers have allegedly colluded with schools to field over-age students or entice some athletes from other schools for the sole purpose of participating in these games. Whichever the case, this is fraud that runs contrary to the spirit of healthy competition and locks out other bona fide students from taking part or possibly excelling in a certain game.
Specific Incidents of Cheating
There have been numerous cheating cases in different counties. For instance, on 15 May, during the Kisumu County Secondary Schools term two matches at Maseno School, Katolo Secondary School was ejected for fielding a non-registered player in the football match against Kisumu Day Secondary School. Following a successful appeal by Kisumu Day, that result was scrapped and Kisumu Day qualified to meet Agai in the regional championship which they won to book a ticket for nationals.
Further investigations revealed that two players of Katolo featured in the match using presumed names, while they had played in the Football Kenya Federation Division Two league with different names. This can be rather assumed to be impersonation, an extent of the fraudulent deals tainting the games. Other schools that were scrapped off the tournament include St Mark Obambo and Onjiko Boys from Kisumu County, whose players were found to be ineligible.
Widespread Issues Across Counties
The problem is not limited to Kisumu County. In Siaya County, Uranga Secondary School has been expelled in the preliminary round for the same reason, upon an appeal by St Mary’s School Yala. In Kisii County, Ndonyo School has filed a complaint against Sameta High, accusing them of fielding overage players. If this complaint goes through, it might see Sameta disqualified.
Nyamira County is also in turmoil, with appeals from semi-finalists Gekendo, Gesure, Gekano, and Gekomoni not resolved, with the biggest area of contention being player eligibility. This opens a wider platform into an emerging trend at this level, possibly undermining secondary school games across regions.
Administrative Concerns
A complaint by Dr. Julius Mambili, the Kakamega High headmaster, has landed Musingu High School’s athletics team under investigation. The latter complained over the transfer of nine students to Musingu without following the procedures spelt out in the 2013 Education Act governing the transfers. Clearly, it stipulates that only two pupils are allowed to transfer from one school team to the other; extra pupils from the same school will automatically be locked out of participating for a period of one year.
Governance and Regulations
The Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association has clear regulations regarding players’ eligibility. Students shall be below the age of 19 years and be bonafide members of their respective schools for a period of at least 90 days preceding the sub-county preliminary rounds, save for Form One students. Any student who has completed his Form Four examinations or is a repeater shall not be eligible to take part in these championships.
These regulations have been put in place to ensure fair competition and normal development of young athletes, these regulations have been tending to change into their exact opposite because of the present cynical wave of scandals.