By OUR CORRESPONDENT
The national finals of the 2025/26 Betika BingwaFest are underway at Kinoru Stadium, bringing together Kenya’s top grassroots teams and athletes for a week-long multi-sport showdown that will culminate on Sunday, April 5, with over KES 23 million in prize money up for grabs.
This year’s extravaganza has drawn 16 football teams (8 men, 8 women), 24 rugby teams (16 men, 8 women), and 32 basketball teams (16 men, 16 women), alongside more than 200 athletes.
Speaking ahead of the national showdown, Betika Group CEO Mutua Mutava said: “The finals are coming in Meru, and they will be bigger this time around. Through BingwaFest, we have seen great athletes use the platform to prepare for bigger stages in the world, and we are happy to see the impact the competition is having. We aimed to have a tournament that mirrored the Olympics, rewarding men and women equally, and it has been such a success for two seasons now. It has been about nurturing talent, strengthening communities through various ways including free medical camps, and inspiring the next generation of Kenyan sportsmen and women.”
Football action kicked off on Monday, March 30, while basketball and rugby will start on Friday, April 3. Athletics will take centre stage on Friday as well, with bib collection scheduled for Thursday, April 2.
Leads United started their title defense strongly with a resounding 3-0 win over Machakos Talent Academy on Tuesday and will be hoping to go all the way again. Other challengers include Bandari Youth, Dunga FC, APS Seals, Plantech FC, Al Azizia FC, and TBM Health FC, while the women’s title chase features Murang’a Sparks Queens, Macmillan Starlets, Kolwa Falcons, MAS Queens, Iron Ladies Academy, Shabbab Ladies, Black Panther Queens and Ukunda Vision Starlets.
Brenda Jepchirchir, who holds the world-leading 10km road time this season, highlights the women’s 10,000m and will face stiff competition from defending champion Maurine Chebor, alongside Daisila Jerono, Christine Njoki and Sandrafelis Chebet among others.
In the men’s 10,000m, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo headlines the field against defending champion Titus Kiprotich, Robert Kiprop and Mathew Kipkoech.
Football and rugby champions, both men and women, will each receive KES 1.5 million, with runners-up taking KES 750,000 and third-place teams earning KES 400,000. winning teams in the 3×3 basketball will go home KES 750,000 richer while teams that finish second and third will take home KES 400,000 and KES 200,000 each, respectively.
In athletics, more than KES 9 million will be up for grabs. The 10,000m race will be the most lucrative, with gold medalists taking home KES 400,000 as the first and second runners-up pocket KES 350,000 and KES 300,000, respectively.
Just like it has been the case in the regional editions, Betika, in partnership with Zuri Health, will host a medical camp throughout the weekend, free for all.
