Sunday night marked the grand finale for the month-long Governor’s Cup at the Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School, with winning teams and the runners-up pocketing cash prizes totaling Sh1.54 million.
Thirty-two teams from the eight sub-counties had lined up to battle it out for the ultimate prize in both soccer and volleyball categories in the sporting tourney which kicked off on May 17.
Yesterday, when the curtains finally came down on the games, Kieni East triumphed in both the men’s and women’s soccer categories after Ichuga FC and Naromoru Starlets each clinched the top prize of Sh 200,000.
In men’s volleyball, Loistan VC from Nyeri Township took the top prize of Sh 120,000 after thrashing Mweiga FC from Kieni West.
And in the women category, Nyeri Town VC took the top prize after elbowing out Mweiga VC in thrilling finals attended by Governor Mutahi Kahiga, his Deputy Warui Kinanire and other high ranking county officials.
In football, the runners-up team received Sh130,000, third place Sh100,000, and the fourth place walked home with Sh50,000.
In the volleyball category, second place received Sh80,000, third place Sh60,000, and the fourth-place team took home Sh30,000.
While presenting the awards, Kahiga congratulated all the teams who took part in the competition and urged them to keep up the sporting spirit.
“The curtain has officially fallen on the highly successful Nyeri County Governor’s Cup Tournament 2026, culminating in a vibrant awarding ceremony. We also celebrated the outstanding achievements of teams, players, coaches, and organizers from across the county,” he said.
“I wish to congratulate all the participating teams for their dedication, discipline, and sportsmanship, noting that the Governor’s Cup has become a powerful platform for talent identification, youth empowerment, social cohesion, and community development throughout Nyeri County.
Kahiga also promised to have an even better tournament come next year to help showcase Nyeri as a leading sporting hub in the country.
The tournament was conducted at the ward level, sub-county, and, finally, at the county stage.
“The tournament brought together a total of 32 teams from all corners of the county, demonstrating the unifying power of sports and reaffirming Nyeri’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of sporting talent. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the players, coaches, match officials, organizers, sponsors, supporters, and all residents who contributed to the success of this year’s tournament and promise that next year, it will be bigger and better.
As we celebrate the champions, we also celebrate every participant who made the journey memorable and inspiring,” he pointed out.
“We have witnessed great talent here today. The level of competition has been impressive, and I want to congratulate all the teams that participated. Sports play a major role in bringing people together and creating opportunities for our young people.”
The governor emphasized that his administration is keen on strengthening sports structures and ensuring that Nyeri regains its position as one of Kenya’s leading sporting counties.
He expressed concern over the declining performance of volleyball in the county, noting that Nyeri once produced some of the best volleyball players and teams in the country.
“In the past, Nyeri County volleyball teams performed exceptionally well and were respected nationally. Unfortunately, that standard has dropped over the years. We are committed to bringing all sports back on track and ensuring that our athletes receive the support they deserve,” he said.
Kahiga further announced plans to invest in capacity building for sports officials, including referees and match officials, while identifying quality officiating as key for the growth of any sport.
He also challenged young athletes to remain disciplined, work hard, and believe in their potential and assured them of his commitment in continuing to support sports initiatives geared towards creating opportunities for future generations.
“We shall organize training programs for referees so that they can improve their officiating skills and meet international standards. Better-trained referees will help improve the quality of competitions and create confidence among players and fans,” he added.
“As a county, we want to see our youth succeed. Through sports, many lives can be transformed. We will continue investing in sports because we believe it is one of the key pillars of youth empowerment and community development.”
By Samuel Maina and Thomas Mondiri
