Oh, high school. Many say the best years of one’s life are the years spent pursuing secondary education. There’s so much that matters that goes on during those short few years; and there couldn’t be a better way to summarize them than high school beefs. So what fuels these beefs?
Thankfully, academic rivalry ranks high among the reasons. Then there is the usual scramble for pride dividends from co-curricular activities namely symposiums, sports, music and drama festivals. Surprisingly, beef between teachers also features as fuel for some of the most fierce of high school beefs. Ladies and gentlemen, wait no more. Here are western Kenya’s most epic high school beefs. And in the event a beef that you know of or have been part of fails to feature here, kindly hit us in the comments.
Friends School Kamusinga vs Chesamisi High School
Of all the western Kenya high school beefs, this old rivalry is not only well documented, but most epic. Like most Kenyan high school rivalries, it starts off with academics. Back in the day when the Kenya education system had A and O levels, Chesamisi was the cock of the walk. Evident by no less than Vice President Micheal Wamalwa Kijana, Governors Moses Akaranga and Kenneth Lusaka among listing Chesamisi as their alma ata.
Then under the 8-4-4 system, Friends School Kamusinga have been leading even the country. For legacy reasons therefore, a tiff is never that far when the two meet. Correction: a fight is never off the cards. It goes without saying that Chesamisi are the brawn in this pairing and therefore almost always win
Are there girls involved? Of course. St Cecilia Misikhu and Lugulu Girls are the lucky damsels who occasion all this testosterone to flow. So epic has been this high school beef that attempts have been made to make peace. Most notably, in 2008, the two schools shared a bus to the National festival in Nakuru. It remains to be seen if the truce holds. Needless to add, over the years, it has been tested alright.
Lugulu Girls vs St Cecilia Misikhu
Issue ilikuwa maboy wa Friends School Kamusinga. Lugulu thought
they had them since they were birds of a feather as both of them are good in academics. That was before Misikhu came barging in full khwipristiokola mode.
The funny thing is in all this, Friends School Kamusinga’s old nemesis Chesamisi Boys are the ‘defacto’ brother school to Misikhu. However, theirs is a forced marriage. This Chesa- Misikhu pairing was based on the perception that they belonged together because they were both academically inferior to Kamusinga and Lugulu.
Thanks to this madharau ndogo ndogo, both Chesamisi and Misikhu are said to have made a secret pact to be a killjoy to the union between the princes of Kamusinga and duchesses of Lugulu. Thus, it became a duty for a lass or lad from Misikhu or Chesamisi to ruin as many Lugu-Singa hookups as they could.
Bungoma High School vs St Mary’s Kibabii
Rugby. And the fact that Kibabii and Kamusinga have been an easy target for their bookish tendencies. It is said that the two would cause a stink at school symposiums. Whereas the other boys schools were all about chasing the girls down, the likes of Kibbs and Kamu would be carrying books around.
Bungoma High School vs Kakamega School
Used to be called Kakamega boys or Kakamega high school and Bungoma boys respectively. This one is a deep seated sports rivalry. Bungoma has challenged Kakamega School’s rugby dominance both at the regional and national levels. Bungoma have traditionally done well in 7s rugby, while Kakamega have been a traditional 15s powerhouse. Then there is a simmering football rivalry and an newer issue of academic rivalry that Kakamega school has to contend with as it waned as an academic giant.
Kakamega School vs Friends School Musingu
Issue inaanzianga kwa academics. Of late Musingu imekuwa ikishinda Kach KCSE. Sasa Kach huwa wanaleta hasira kwa rugby. Secondly, Butere Girls na Mukumu Girls huleta noma pia. Butere ni sister school ya Kach na ju sasa Kach hawa perform, imebidi Musingu itake over the game. Kach sasa zao ni revenge wakipatana na Mukumu Girls who are the sister school to Musingu, sa kunakuwa kungori.
St. Teresa’s Kabula Boys Secondary School vs Sirakaru High School
Heard this one is a rivalry over food. Don’t ask me to explain the how and why. Let’s leave it at that.
St. Joseph’s Boys National School Kitale vs St. Anthony’s Boys’ High School
Formerly Kitale Day Secondary school, the rivalry between St. Anthony’s Boys High School and St. Joseph’s Boys National School Kitale in sports is the most epic of Western Kenya high school beefs of the kind. Be it in football or hockey, St. Antony can’t help lording it over their neighbors whose academic exploits they can only dream of.
Friends School Kamusinga vs St.Antony’s Boys’ High School
This is one big high school hockey rivalry. They’re not only rivals in Western Kenya, but hata ikifika nationals na East Africa vita ni yao tu.
St Lukes Boys High School Kimilili vs Chesamisi High School
St Luke’s Boys High School Kimilili was known as simply as Kimilili Boys back in the day. The rivalry with Chesamisi is in drama and music festivals. Moreover, St Luke’s Kimilili in spite of being the younger school now boasts of an ultra modern library – which as far as high school bragging rights go – is a huge, huge thing. Then of course there is handball to squabble over for these two giants of the game.
Kabuyefwe Friends School v St. Joseph’s Boys’ National High School Kitale
An intense volleyball rivalry.
Goseta Boys Secondary School v St. Anthony’s Boys’ National High School Kitale
This one is a bitter football rivalry. While St. Antony’s are five times national champions, Goseta regularly participate in the nationals but have never won a title. Moreover, the two soccer powerhouses from Trans Nzoia have to face off regularly at the regional levels. With the introduction of U 16 championships, it’s becoming more apparent that Goseta just might finally win that maiden title.
Sinyolo Girls Secondary School Kisumu vs Tigoi Girls Secondary School
This beef stems from a fierce hockey rivalry. Sinyolo Girls have always been the top dogs, but Tigs wamekuja kuupset the balance.
Where is Tigoi Girls?
Tigoi girls is in Hamisi constituency in Vihiga County. To get to this leading girls high school nicknamed Tigs, here is a map to Tigoi Girls High School.
St. Brigids Kiminini vs Tigoi Girls Secondary School
The basketball rivalry between St.Brigids and Tigs makes this one of the most epic high school beefs in Western Kenya. Hawa sasa ndio champs kwa bake. If one of them makes to nationals this year, be assured that the next year it will be the other school. The boys feature too in this high school beef. Given the sporting exploits of both schools, it comes as no surprise vile each one of them huwa anataka St Josephs ya Kitale.
Kaimosi Girls vs Tigoi Girls Secondary School
Issue ni maboy. Tigs huwa madem wa Nyango but Nyango walipata side chic in Kaimosi. Masomo pia huleta noma hapa.
Friends School Keveye Girls vs Moi Girls High School Vokoli
Beef inaanzia kwa masomo whereby Keveye wanajiona wakojuu ya Vokoli academically. Sa they think that they should be rolling with fellow academic giants Chava. Shida ni kuna matime Vokoli hushinda Keveye academically masaa ingine.
Mbale High School Maragoli vs Chavakali High School
Beef ina anzia kwa masomo. Chava huwa wanapiga Bare academicaly sasa hawataki Bare wawaambie anything. But sasa Mbale ni wamoto kwa music and drama festivals na hawawezi kimya juu ya hiyo story. Although hivi majuzi Chavakali High School pia wanawika music and drama festivals.
Friends School Senende vs Friends School Kaimosi Boys
Its not clear ilianza aje but vita yao iko tu each one of them demands respect from the other. When Kaimosi meet Senende, Kaimosi expects Senende to humble. Alafu pia juu ya music and drama festivals wote walikuwa wamoto so they want to make the challenge physical.
Nyang’ori Boys High School vs Chavakali Friends School
Nyangori Boys High School basketball, academics….Beef ilikuwa over everything. Academics, sports, drama, music halafu madem. Nyang`o walikuwa wanapiga Chava kwa academics like always halafu Chava wakatop story ikawa ati wameiba. Sports especially rugby, hockey, basketball na foota.
Sigalame Boys High School Vs St. Mary’s Mundika Boys High School
Sigalame is in funyula on the other end of Busia county, while St. Mary’s Mundika Boys High School or simply Mundika is in Mundika a town a few kilometers from Busia town along the Busia- Kisumu highway. But the distance make no difference over their rivalry for the affection of Nangina Girls. Mundika ndio wachokozi hapa because Nangina is just a stone throw away from Sigalame.
Vihiga Friends High School v Chavakali Friends School
Beef ilikuwa over rugby. Hao ndio wamoto kwa rugby Vihiga county so its always a derby sa kila mse anadai respect. There is also the matter of Mudavadi Girls over at Madzuu near Mungoma hills the home of Andimi the father of Mulogooli.
Vihiga vs Nyangori
Beef ilikuwa over hockey. Nyango huwapiga academically so Vigis huleta ngori kwa hockey. Halafu Vigis hudai madem wa Tigoi na hao ni madem wa Nyango. Sasa Vihiga wanakuwa wachokozi for no reason.
Friends School Kamusinga vs Musingu Friends School
Issue ilikuwa hockey na academics. Mmoja akishinda academics mwingine anahakikisha amempiga hockey and the cycle continues. Recently, Musingu has been having the better of Kamusinga in hockey. Kamusinga can take a hiding in hockey, but can’t stand a beating from Musingu in academics.
Senende Friends vs Nyangori
In the 2000’s deputy principal wa Nyangori alienda Senende kama principal. Akafanya maendeleo huko. Then principal wa Nyango aka retire and the principal of Senende went back to Nyangori.
Moi Girls High School Kamusinga vs Cardinal Otunga Girls
Moi Girls High School Kamusinga rule handball while Cardianl Otunga Girls lord over the books in this rivalry. Further, this rivarly finds a home in their competition for the affections of Friends School Kamusinga. This is where this jealusly driven – like most high school beefs here – gets interesting.
Kindly note that Cardinal Otunga Girls meet with Kibabii High school atleast twice every week for school mass at Kibabii catholic church. However, as the Abanyala say: Akasisanakho sikakhaywamo oluuya. Meaning, two (buttocks) rubbing against each other will never lack sweat. The sweat between Kibabii and Cardinal Otunga is so pungent that it drives the girls all the way to Kamusinga to test the fragile relationship between Kamu Boys and Kamu girls.
We call this relationship fragile because the princes of Kamusinga want nothing to do with their neighbours Moi Girls Kamusinga. However, as a Maragoli would say: uyanze usuri, they like it or not; Moi Girls Kamusinga will not stand by and watch Cardinal Otunga come all the way and take the boys from right under their noses.
Chebuka Girls High School vs St Monica Chakol Girls High School
This girls’ high school battle is a fight for the boys. The battle is for the affection of Friends School Kamusinga and Kimilili boys.
The Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls vs St. Cecilia Misikhu
Issue huwa hockey. Wote ni wamoto kwa hockey sasa kwa hio derby between Mukumu and Misikhu, mmoja akishinda leo next time mwingine ni kujikaza for bragging rights. This hockey derby then morphs into an academic battle.
Lugulu Girls vs Bunyore Girls
Beef ni academic. Especially English and French. They both feel they’re the best sasa ni maringo tu wakipatana. Girls from these schools have been brought up to think they are meant to work in embassies and foreign missions becausse of thier ability to speak french!
Lugulu Girls vs Cardinal Otunga Girls Bungoma
Once again, just like the beef with St. Cecilia Misikhu, the fight for Lugulu girls have on their hands is over their ‘brother school’ Friends school Kamusinga.
Kimilili Boys vs Mukumu Boys
Handball rivalry.
Nyangori vs Kivaywa Boys High School Kakamega
Indoor games.
Keveye Girls vs Kaimosi Girls
Issue ilikuwa maboy. Nyango vile walikuwa hot cakes madem wa Kevs wakawadai na hio time lakini Nyango walikuwa wanaroll na Kai sana sana. Then Chava came up and Kaimosi Girls wakahamia Chava. When that happened, Keveye pia wakaanza kudai maboy wa Chava.
Other Western Kenya High School Beefs Of Note
- St Patrick’s Naitiri Boys Vs Lukhuna
- Namachanja vs Bungoma township
- Chebuka girls vs St Monica charcoal
- St. Patrick’s Naitiri Boys vs Sirakaru High School
- Namachanja vs Bungoma township
- Friends Chwele Girls High School vs Our Lady Of Mercy Chebukaka Girls Secondary School Chwele
- Manor House Secondary Kitale vs St Anthony’s Boys’ Kitale
