Nairobi Schools Open 2026 Athletics Registration for County Competition

High school athletics registration for the new season opens on July 15 at schools across Nairobi County, with entry forms available through the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association.

The timing aligns with the end of the second term when many institutions finalize team selections for events leading into the national secondary schools championships scheduled for August in Mombasa. Participation has grown steadily since the county resumed full inter-school meets after pandemic disruptions, giving students from areas like South C and Parklands a direct path to compete at Kasarani Stadium and other venues.

Local programs and entry points

Students in Nairobi can start through established school clubs at institutions such as Lenana School near Kibera or the athletics program at Strathmore School in Madaraka. Both run weekly training sessions coordinated with Athletics Kenya and accept walk-in inquiries at their main gates on weekdays between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The county office on Moi Avenue also distributes forms for unaffiliated runners who want to join trial sessions at the City Square sports grounds.

Coaches at these sites emphasize basic fitness tests before assigning events, focusing on sprints, middle-distance and field events that match the county calendar. Parents living near Eastleigh or Westlands can contact the same clubs for transport options that shuttle athletes to evening workouts at the Nyayo National Stadium track.

Costs, timelines and required items

Entry fees stand at 800 Kenyan shillings per athlete for the county phase, with an additional 1,200 shillings covering the standard KSSSA vest and bib issued on July 20. Last season 4,200 Nairobi students competed across track and field disciplines, according to the county education sports desk records. Athletes must supply their own running shoes and a medical certificate dated no earlier than June 2026 from any government health facility.

Training begins immediately after registration at school grounds or approved public tracks, with sessions running three times a week until the August national meet. Families should confirm transport arrangements early because many schools in the central business district share limited buses for away meets.

Interested students should visit their school sports master this week with a copy of the birth certificate and recent academic report to complete the form before the July 15 deadline. Those without a school affiliation can collect paperwork directly from the county sports office on Moi Avenue and join open trials at the City Square grounds on July 18.