Kakamega School are through to the Western Region KSSSA rugby final after edging out defending champions Vihiga High School in a tightly contested semifinal decided by a moment of brilliance from Austin Shuma.
In a cagey encounter where both sides struggled to break each other’s defensive lines, it was Shuma who rose to the occasion in the second half. The playmaker dotted down the decisive try before calmly slotting in the conversion, handing the Kakamega Barbarians a hard-fought victory and ending Vihiga’s title defense.
The win capped off a dominant run for Kakamega, who have looked sharp since the start of the tournament. They opened their campaign yesterday with a solid 12-0 victory over Butula, before following it up with a 13-3 win against Bokoli. Carrying that momentum into today’s fixtures, they sealed top form in the pool B stages with a convincing 13-0 win over Senende.
Their consistency, discipline, and defensive organization have been standout features, but it is their ability to step up in decisive moments that has now propelled them into the final.
Kakamega will now face Bungoma in what promises to be a thrilling decider. Bungoma booked their place in the final after a 21-0 win over Senende in the other semifinal.
With a ticket to the national games on the line, both sides will be aiming to finish the job, but Kakamega will take confidence from their unbeaten run and Shuma’s match-winning heroics as they chase regional glory.
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