Kakamega School 2026 KSSSA Champions: The Road to Glory

Kakamega School’s journey to the 2026 KSSSA national football title was built on goals, resilience and a remarkable response to the only defeat of their campaign.

The Green Commandos played 21 matches from the Kakamega Central Sub-County Games to the national final. Overall, they won 19, drew once and lost only once.

Along the way, Kakamega scored an impressive 76 goals and conceded just eight. They also kept 15 clean sheets before completing their journey with a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over St. Mary’s Yala.

However, their road to the national crown was far from straightforward.

Kakamega initially finished third at the County Games and appeared to have missed out on regional qualification. Later, the disqualification of county champions Butere for fielding eight ineligible players handed the Green Commandos another opportunity.

They grabbed it with both hands.

Commandos dominate Sub-County Games at home

Kakamega began their campaign on familiar territory, with the Kakamega Central Sub-County Games played at Kakamega School.

First, the Green Commandos sent a warning to their rivals with a 3-0 victory over Ikonyero.

Julius Ochieng, Derrick Wanyonyi and Daniel Ombati scored to get the campaign off to a perfect start.

Next, Kakamega demolished Esokone 9-0. Wanyonyi produced a five-goal masterclass, while Brighton Nacheri scored twice. Ochieng and Maclin Adika completed the rout.

Afterwards, Kakamega recorded another convincing victory, beating Maraba 5-0. Fidel Odhiambo and Bradley Muliamba scored once each, Adika struck twice and Ochieng added another.

Meanwhile, the knockout stage brought little relief for Kakamega’s opponents.

The Commandos defeated Shieywe 2-0 in the quarter-finals through goals from Ombati and Eugene Beleti.

Then, they hammered Rosterman 9-0 in the semi-final. Wanyonyi grabbed a hat-trick, while Adika scored twice.

Ochieng, Ombati and Mulwa also found the net before an own goal completed the scoring.

Kakamega crowned Sub-County champions

Finally, Kakamega completed their dominant Sub-County campaign with a 7-1 victory over Eshisiru in the final.

Ochieng, Beleti, Ombati and Derrick Muchiti scored, while Wanyonyi added a brace. An own goal completed the seven-goal haul.

Consequently, Kakamega finished the Sub-County stage with a perfect record.

They won all six matches, scored 35 goals and conceded only once. In addition, they kept five clean sheets.

Wanyonyi dominated the scoring charts with 11 goals. Ochieng and Adika followed with five each, while Ombati contributed four.

Having conquered Kakamega Central, the Green Commandos then turned their attention to the County Games.

County Games provide major test

Kakamega maintained their impressive form when the County Games began.

To begin with, they demolished Sirigoi 7-0 as Ochieng scored four times. Mike Okoth, Wanyonyi and Ombati also found the net.

However, their second match against Butere provided a much tougher test.

Ombati scored the only goal as Kakamega secured a narrow 1-0 victory.

After that, the Green Commandos defeated Mukumu 4-0 in the quarter-finals. Ochieng, Nacheri, Ombati and Muliamba shared the goals.

However, their winning run came to an abrupt end in the semi-finals.

Musingu hand Kakamega their only defeat

Traditional rivals Musingu School defeated Kakamega 2-0 in the County semi-final.

It was Kakamega’s first defeat of the campaign and, ultimately, their only loss across the entire 21-match journey.

As a result, Musingu advanced to the final, while Kakamega dropped into the third-place playoff.

Nevertheless, the Green Commandos responded by beating Tande 2-0. Adika and Okoth scored to ensure Kakamega finished third on the field.

At that stage, their campaign appeared to have suffered a major blow.

However, the County competition soon took another dramatic turn.

Butere disqualification hands Kakamega regional lifeline

Butere went on to defeat Musingu and win the Kakamega County football title.

However, officials later disqualified Butere for fielding eight ineligible players.

As a result, the decision changed the final qualification positions for the Western Region Games.

Musingu moved into first position, while Kakamega moved from third to second place.

Consequently, Musingu and Kakamega earned the two slots to represent Kakamega County at the Western Region Games.

For the Green Commandos, therefore, the decision offered a lifeline.

They had suffered their only defeat of the campaign and initially finished outside the top two. Nevertheless, they now had another opportunity to keep their national title ambitions alive.

What followed was a remarkable response.

Green Commandos bounce back in Bungoma

The Western Region Games took place in Bungoma, with matches staged at Kanduyi Stadium and Sudi Stadium.

Kakamega arrived determined to make the most of their second chance.

First, they opened their regional campaign with a 3-1 victory over Bukembe. Adika, Ochieng and Okoth scored for the Commandos.

Next, Kakamega defeated Kolanya 2-0 through goals from Ochieng and Ferdinand Isaac.

A goalless draw against Emusire followed. Notably, it would prove to be Kakamega’s only draw of the entire campaign.

However, the Green Commandos shifted gears when the knockout stage arrived.

In the semi-final, they swept aside Kibabii 4-0. Ochieng converted from the penalty spot, Okoth scored twice and Ombati completed the rout.

As a result, Kakamega booked a place in the Western Region final.

Waiting for them was a familiar opponent — Musingu.

Kakamega turn tables on Musingu

The regional final offered Kakamega an opportunity to settle the score against the only team to have beaten them.

This time, however, the Green Commandos delivered.

Fidel Odhiambo and Daniel Ombati scored as Kakamega defeated Musingu 2-0 to claim the Western Region championship.

The result completed a remarkable turnaround.

Only weeks earlier, Musingu had beaten Kakamega 2-0 in the County semi-final. Now, on the bigger regional stage, Kakamega reversed the same scoreline.

More importantly, the victory secured their place at the KSSSA National Games.

Overall, Kakamega completed the regional competition unbeaten. They won four matches, drew once, scored 11 goals and conceded only one.

In addition, they kept four clean sheets.

Therefore, the second chance they received after Butere’s disqualification had turned into a regional championship.

Kakamega take title charge to Thika

Next, the Green Commandos travelled to Thika in Kiambu County for the KSSSA National Games at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy grounds.

Their national campaign started with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Takaba.

Wanyonyi opened the scoring before Ochieng struck twice.

Kakamega then followed that performance with a 4-0 demolition of Tumaini. Ochieng, Adika, Ombati and Muliamba shared the goals.

Afterwards, the Commandos completed their preliminary campaign with another four-goal performance.

They defeated St. Philips Baricho 4-1, with Ombati, Derrick Muchiti, Wanyonyi and Ochieng finding the net.

Three matches. Three wins. Eleven goals.

As a result, Kakamega marched into the national semi-finals.

Menengai push Commandos into extra time

The national semi-final against Menengai proved far more difficult.

Menengai pushed Kakamega beyond regulation time as both teams fought for a place in the national final.

Eventually, the Green Commandos secured a 2-1 victory after extra time.

Ochieng and Ombati scored the crucial goals to send Kakamega into the national final.

Therefore, after 20 matches stretching from the Sub-County Games at Kakamega School to the national stage in Thika, only St. Mary’s Yala stood between the Commandos and the national crown.

Beleti delivers against St. Mary’s Yala

The final produced a fitting conclusion to Kakamega’s remarkable journey.

Kakamega struck after only three minutes when Eugene Beleti rose above the defence to head home Mike Okoth’s corner.

However, Yala fought back.

Collins Otieno equalised before halftime. Then, Edwin Ochieng struck on the hour mark to put the Black Saints 2-1 ahead.

Suddenly, Kakamega were staring at defeat.

Nevertheless, the Green Commandos refused to surrender.

Captain Fidel Odhiambo provided a perfectly weighted pass for Derrick Wanyonyi, who curled home the equaliser in the 82nd minute.

Consequently, the goal forced another national knockout match into extra time.

Then Beleti delivered again.

The midfielder struck his second goal in the 100th minute to restore Kakamega’s lead.

Yala pushed desperately for another equaliser. However, the Commandos held firm to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory after extra time.

Finally, the journey was complete.

Kakamega School were the 2026 KSSSA champions.

Green Commandos 2026 overall top scorers

Kakamega’s attacking strength came from across the squad, with Julius Ochieng, Derrick Wanyonyi and Daniel Ombati leading the scoring charts.

Overall, Ochieng finished the journey as the Green Commandos’ leading scorer with 18 goals. Wanyonyi followed with 15, while Ombati completed the top three with 12.

Rank	Player	Goals
1	Julius Ochieng	18
2	Derrick Wanyonyi	15
3	Daniel Ombati	12
4	Maclin Adika	8
5	Mike Okoth	5
6	Eugene Beleti	4
7	Brighton Nacheri	3
7	Bradley Muliamba	3
9	Derrick Muchiti	2
9	Fidel Odhiambo	2
11	Ferdinand Isaac	1
11	Mulwa	1
—	Own goals	2
	TOTAL	76

Ochieng’s 18-goal haul included five goals at the County Games and another five at the National Games.

Wanyonyi, meanwhile, did most of his damage during the opening stage. He scored an incredible 11 goals in six Sub-County matches.

Later, he added one goal at County level and three more at the National Games, including the vital equaliser against St. Mary’s Yala in the final.

Ombati, on the other hand, proved remarkably consistent throughout the campaign.

He scored four times at Sub-County level, three at the County Games, twice at the Western Region Games and three times at the Nationals.

However, perhaps no goals carried more weight than Beleti’s brace against St. Mary’s Yala in the national final. Ultimately, his 100th-minute winner delivered the national crown.

The numbers behind Kakamega’s 2026 journey

Across all four stages, Kakamega produced an outstanding overall record.

In total, the Green Commandos played 21 matches and won 19, giving them a 90.5 per cent win rate.

They recorded one draw against Emusire and suffered only one defeat — the 2-0 County semi-final loss to Musingu.

Overall, Kakamega scored 76 goals at an average of 3.62 per match.

At the other end, their defence conceded only eight goals throughout the journey.

Furthermore, the Commandos kept 15 clean sheets, representing a clean-sheet rate of 71.4 per cent.

Their Sub-County campaign produced 35 goals from six matches, while they added 14 at the County Games.

Kakamega then scored another 11 goals during their Western Region title run before finishing with 16 goals at the National Games.

At the Nationals alone, the Green Commandos produced a perfect record of five victories from five matches.

From third in the county to champions of Kenya

Ultimately, the story of Kakamega School’s 2026 campaign was not simply about goals and victories.

It was also about resilience.

First, they dominated the Kakamega Central Sub-County Games on their home turf.

However, Musingu stopped them in the County semi-final. Kakamega then beat Tande to finish third and initially appeared to have missed their chance to progress.

Butere subsequently defeated Musingu to take the County title. However, Butere’s disqualification for fielding eight ineligible players changed the qualification picture.

As a result, Musingu moved to first place and Kakamega to second, giving the Green Commandos another chance at the Western Region Games in Bungoma.

Kakamega made that opportunity count.

They won the Western Region title, beating the same Musingu side that had handed them their only defeat.

Then came Thika.

Five matches and five victories at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy grounds culminated in a dramatic extra-time triumph over St. Mary’s Yala.

Therefore, from Kakamega School to Bungoma and finally Thika, the Green Commandos travelled a difficult road to the summit of Kenyan school football.

The final numbers told the story:

21 matches. 19 wins. One draw. One defeat. 76 goals. Eight conceded. 15 clean sheets.

More importantly, the journey ended with the Green Commandos standing as Western Region champions and 2026 KSSSA national champions.

A campaign that appeared in danger at the County Games ultimately ended with Kakamega School standing on top of Kenya.

Fear the tradition. Command the game. Let the ball kiss the ground.