KSSSA has introduced a tough digital verification system to curb age cheating and impersonation in secondary school sports. The new measures kicked in on Wednesday, March 12 when the Term One Secondary Schools Regional Championships started across the country.
KEMIS: A Game Changer for School Sports Integrity
KSSSA Secretary General David Ngugi said the KSSSA Sports Management Information System Portal (KEMIS) will be the main tool for verifying player eligibility. It was first tested during the 2023 Term Two games in Kisii and led to four schools being disqualified for fielding ineligible players.
Ngugi said the digital system will boost fairness and integrity in school sports which have for long been marred by age fraud.
New Registration and Verification Requirements
All schools must now register players through the KSSSA portal and submit hard copy documents approved by Regional County Directors of Education. The documents include:
- School ID cards with a rubber stamp across the chest, admission number, class, date of birth, KCPE year and Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) number.
- For transfer students: The ID must have the previous school, Certificate of Admission (C.O.A.), and date of transfer. Only two transferred players per team is allowed.
- Photographic evidence: Schools must submit three certified group photos of their team including the principal and coach. Each photo must be stamped and certified on the back.
- Official team lists: Six certified copies printed on the school’s letterhead, with player names, admission numbers, class, KCPE index number, date of birth and UPI number.
Students who did KCSE in 2024 and decided to repeat are ineligible. The same applies to students repeating classes within the academic year.
Squad Limits for Various Sports
KSSSA has set player limits for different sports to ease competition:
- Football, hockey: 20 players
- Basketball (5-a-side), volleyball: 12 players
- Basketball (3-a-side): 5 players
- Handball, netball: 14 players
- Rugby 7s: 12 players
- Rugby 15s: 25 players
- Badminton, table tennis, lawn tennis: 6 players
- Swimming: 15 athletes
- Athletics: Squad limits based on event requirements
School Principals and Coaches Back the System
The system has gotten thumbs up from school principals and coaches who believe it will create a level playing field.
Dr Aggrey High School principal and coach Robert Aran Maima, who has coached Shimba Hills and Kaya Tiwi, said it will eliminate cheating.
Kobala High School netball coach George Adoyo, also Kenya’s Under-19 netball youth coach, welcomed the digital verification process, saying it will ensure only genuine students participate. But he raised concerns that school principals will protect cheating schools while punishing whistle blowing teachers.
“It is painful that some principals instead of upholding integrity, protect cheating schools and punish teachers who expose cheating,” Adoyo said. He cited a case where a Nyakach Girls netball teacher was transferred for reporting age fraud.
Kaya Tiwi basketball coach Ali Kalama asked the Ministry of Education to crack down on county and regional education directors who manipulate decisions to shield schools that cheat.
Previous Age Cheating Cases and Future Expectations
Several schools have been disqualified in the past due to age fraud including:
- Wiyeta Girls (Football – Rift Valley)
- Nyabondo’s Volleyball Team
- Butula High School (Rugby)
Now that KEMIS is operational KSSSA officials believe the era of age cheating and impersonation is coming to an end. The association will continue to promote a fair, transparent and merit-based school sports in Kenya.
