Kakamega School's James Mulwa challenge Isaac Buluhu of Tumaini High School in the Kenya Secondary School Term 2 football match on August 4, 2026. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
A classic western kenya football rivalry will take centre stage on Thursday after Kakamega High School and St. Mary’s School Yala booked their places in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two Games football final in Thika.
The eagerly anticipated showdown, dubbed the "school Mashemeji Derby," pits two of Kenya’s most successful football giants against each other after impressive campaigns through the group stages and semi-finals.
Twelve-time national champions Kakamega High, popularly known as the Green Commandos, secured their place in the final after overcoming a resilient Menengai High School 2-1 after extra time in a semi-final played at M-Pesa Academy on Wednesday.
Kakamega entered the knockout stage as one of the tournament favourites after dominating Group A. They began their campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Eastern Region champions Tumaini Secondary before maintaining their unbeaten run to finish top of the group and qualify for the semi-finals.
Against Menengai, Kakamega started brightly and thought they had taken the lead in the 18th minute through Daniel Ombati, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 29th minute when Julius Ochieng unleashed a powerful long-range strike that beat the goalkeeper to hand the Green Commandos a deserved lead.