The 2026 Siaya County Secondary School Term One Games exploded into life on Thursday with St Mary’s School Yala — the famed Black Saints — and defending basketball champions Ng’iya Girls High School delivering a masterclass in ruthless efficiency across multiple disciplines.
Hosted across Ukwala, Lifunga and Ugenya secondary schools as part of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) calendar, the three-day ball games (rugby 15s, basketball, handball and hockey) set the stage for a high-stakes push toward the Nyanza Regionals and, ultimately, the national finals in Kisumu later this year.
Yala, chasing redemption after their rugby and handball sides fell short at last year’s nationals in Mombasa, arrived in Ugenya sub-county with a point to prove — and they proved it emphatically.
In rugby 15s, the Black Saints demolished Maranda 60-5. On the basketball court, they humiliated Obambo 108-6. And in handball, they crushed Afumbre 38-19. It was a statement of intent that left opponents reeling and coaches beaming.
“Good day for us in Ugenya after dominant wins,” said Yala rugby coach George Kerima. “The level of the boys is commendable as we head into the regionals. Our objective here was to train on our scoring strengths — an area that has been a menace when we get to the regionals.”
The boys’ basketball side, under coach Leonard Okuku, carried the same lethal momentum, building on a commanding sub-county performance that already signalled their hunger for county, regional and national glory.
Meanwhile, Ng’iya Girls — the undisputed queens of girls’ basketball in the county — opened their title defence with clinical precision, dismantling Kanyibok 66-0 in a display of suffocating defence.
“We are here to practice our defence tactics, and it worked,” said Ng’iya tactician Naftali Ambala. “I trust the girls going forward, and the aim at the county level is to hone our defensive setup. I am very confident of retaining our title.”
The 66-0 whitewash was no accident; Ng’iya’s strategy was simple yet devastating — keep opponents away from the rim and let the scoreboard do the talking.
Last season, both schools carried Siaya’s hopes to the Nyanza Regionals, with Yala advancing in rugby and handball only to stumble at the final hurdle. That pain has clearly been channelled into purpose. With Kisumu hosting the 2026 national finals, the Black Saints and Ng’iya’s basketball stars are determined not just to qualify, but to shine on the biggest stage.
As the three-day championships continue across the three venues, Siaya County KSSSA officials have assured seamless organisation, with security and medical teams on standby.
For now, though, the narrative belongs to St Mary’s Yala and Ng’iya Girls — two powerhouses who have turned the opening day into their personal showcase and sent a loud warning to the rest of Nyanza: the road to Kisumu runs through Siaya, and the Black Saints and their basketball sisters are already in overdrive.
