KRU set to use schools games to select team for Dakar 2026

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) will use this week’s National Junior Secondary Schools Games as a yardstick to select a team for the World Youth Olympics to be held in Dakar, Senegal, next year.

KRU development officer, Ronald Okoth, said the junior show, which will run alongside the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term One ball games, will be the key instrument used to select the team.

“As you are aware, we will, for the second year, hold the Junior Secondary Schools Games with students under 15 years (boys/girls) targeted to represent the country in Dakar,” he said. Among schools that have qualified for the boys national show include Lugulu (Western), St. Joseph Kisii (Nyanza), Nakuru West (Rift Valley), Kinoru (Eastern), Likoni JS and Kalela JS ( Coast) with Ayany Primary representing Nairobi. In the girls’ category, Nairobi will be represented by Kiboro Primary with Birunda PAG Tongaren representing Western.

Others are—Regea (Nyanza), Kitale Junior (RV), Kavingu Kitui (Eastern), Majaoni and Mlungu wa Mawe (Coast). North Eastern will not be represented in the fiveday competition. Okoth expects a competitive event, especially with national team call-ups looming on the horizon. “ It’s going to be good competition seeing the girls and boys compete. We have our selectors who will be there to do talent identification, and we expect to have robust teams.”