In the dusty playing fields of Takaba, a small town in Mandera County, Kenya's youngest athletes are about to write the next chapter of their sporting dreams. The Kenya Primary Junior Secondary Schools Sports Association (KPJSSA) has released its 2026 Term Two games calendar, and for thousands of schoolchildren across the country, this means one thing: the race to regional, national, and ultimately East African glory has officially begun.
This season will feature five disciplines—football, volleyball, netball, basketball 3×3, and handball—giving young athletes a range of sports to showcase their talent. The journey starts at the sub-county level, where competitions will be held on dates set by local sports committees, before teams advance to the county championships in Takaba. Participants are expected to arrive on July 15, with matches running from July 16 through July 18.
Immediately following the county championships, Takaba will host the North Eastern Regional Games. Teams will arrive on July 19, with competitions scheduled from July 20 to July 22. The top performers from these regional contests will earn their tickets to the National Games, which will be held in Kiambu County from July 25 to August 2, 2026.
But for the very best of Kenya's junior school athletes, the ultimate prize lies even further afield. The season will culminate in the East Africa Games, taking place in Morogoro, Tanzania, from August 12 to August 22, 2026. There, Kenya's champions will face off against rival teams from across the region—a milestone that transforms a local game in Mandera into a stepping stone toward continental competition.
Sports officials are urging schools to begin preparations early, calling for organized training sessions for players, coaches, and officials alike. With the calendar now confirmed, young athletes in the North Eastern region and beyond are intensifying their drills, dreaming of the day they might march onto a national—or even East African—stage.
For these schoolchildren, the path from a dusty field in Takaba to the grand arenas of Morogoro is more than just a sporting journey. It's a reminder that talent, no matter where it is born, deserves the chance to shine.