KSSSA: Inside Raila Odinga Educational Centre’s ambitious bid for national glory and East Africa dreams

Raila Odinga Education Centre has set its sights on securing a ticket to the upcoming Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) regional games in Arusha, Tanzania.

The Nairobi-based institution has made silent yet steady strides in girls’ football. They recently punched their ticket to the National Finals after edging Soweto 2-0 in a tense Nairobi regional final.

Established in 2016 by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to expand access to quality primary and secondary education for children in the Kibera informal settlement, the school is now demonstrating that its excellence extends far beyond the classroom into co-curricular activities.

The school will be flying the girls’ flag high in the netball and football disciplines in the national games.

Aiming for the stars in the regional East African games, their immediate hurdle begins on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the National School Games hosted at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy in Thika, Kiambu County. The Nairobi champions have been drawn in a tough Group B alongside Archbishop Njenga, Kiarithaini Girls, and Misuuni Girls.

Undeterred by debut

Despite facing a challenging draw in their debut appearance at the national stage, the team remains firm in their mission to bring the trophy to Kibra as they reveal in an interview with a local television station.

“This journey has been steep. We fell short along the way last year and learned from our mistakes. Making it to the nationals this time, we are determined to give it our all and come back with the trophy,” one of the key players asserted in the interview.

However, the team’s inspiring run comes against the backdrop of significant resource constraints, with players often forced to share basic equipment such as boots and training gear. The players appealed to local leaders and well-wishers to support their campaign.

“We urge our area MP, Governor Johnson Sakaja, Mike Sonko, and our Nairobi Women Representative to come to our aid. We urgently need training kits, football boots, and sanitary pads,” the player added.

The team is led by veteran tactician Joseph ‘Orao’ Odhiambo, formerly of Dagoretti Mixed, who has brought a wealth of championship experience to the Kibra side. Coach Orao noted the transition to managing a girls’ team has been a positive experience.

“I decided to take up this role and guide these young girls after my stint with Dagoretti Mixed. I find coaching girls to be less demanding in terms of discipline—they are focused on the objective and far less easily distracted,” Orao told the broadcaster.

The coach also rallied the Kibra community to travel to Thika and back the team throughout the tournament.

“I want to urge the community in Kibra and across Nairobi to come out in large numbers and support these girls at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy. We need their voices in the stands as we pursue this dream,” he added.

Playing for Odinga’s legacy

Multi-disciplinary coach and teacher Stephen Ouma reflected on the team’s rapid progress and the emotional motivation driving their campaign.

“When I arrived here, I coached football, basketball, and athletics, but we decided to throw our full weight behind the girls’ football program, and the progress has been remarkable,” Ouma noted.

“Our biggest wish was for the founder, the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to witness this achievement firsthand. Reaching the nationals and pushing for the East African games would have been the ultimate gift to his legacy.”

Ouma also reinforced the players’ plea for basic necessities, emphasising that support for sanitary towels and proper gear remains critical to sustaining the girls’ overall well-being and performance on the field.

Action kicks off on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy in Thika as the Raila Odinga Education Centre looks to rewrite school sports history.