Five Years Strong: Sara Cup continues to transform lives through sport and education

The fifth edition of the Tenda Wema Sara Cup—a hallmark tournament celebrating education, community, and compassion—unfolded in grand style at St. Mary’s School, Westlands, Nairobi, on Saturday, bringing together corporate teams, educators, policymakers, and partners in a spirited show of unity and purpose.

Established in 2021 to honor Dr. Sara Ruto, former Chief Administrative Secretary of Education and Chair of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the Sara Cup has grown into a beacon of collaboration and philanthropy, with the annual event raising funds for the Tenda Wema initiative, which supports marginalized children and youth through scholarships, mentorship, and educational opportunities.

This year’s edition, themed “Transforming Lives Through Education,” was a resounding success—blending sportsmanship with social impact and reaffirming the tournament’s vision of using teamwork and friendship to uplift communities.

In a display of resilience and talent, Royal Media Services (RMS) swept all honors, clinching gold across football, volleyball, and athletics.

RMS began their golden run with a 1-0 football victory over Sifa Plus, followed by another narrow semifinal win against Vapors courtesy of Basil Ogembo. The team sealed the championship with a thrilling 1-0 triumph over FKF Kikuyu Sub-County, thanks to a last-minute strike from Emmanuel Ochieng, who also starred in athletics.

In volleyball, RMS staged a stunning comeback after dropping the first set to Usawa Agenda, eventually sealing a 2-1 win led by skipper Lewis Njagi and standout performer Bernard Cheruiyot.

Their athletics squad completed the clean sweep with an electrifying win in the 4x100m relay, where seamless teamwork from Ochieng, Sweeny Jangara, Beryl Oyoo, and Nathaniel Maina brought the crowd to its feet.

The Sara Cup has consistently drawn a diverse mix of participants, including corporate organizations, NGOs, education advocates, and government representatives. This year’s tournament featured teams from Royam Media Services Limited (RMS), Usawa Agenda, Sifa Plus, SHOFCO, Friends of Sara, ZIPAL+RELI, Dignitas, Express Parents, Express Coaches, and Matrix Vision.

Honoring a Legacy of Service

Beyond the competition, the event served as a vital networking platform—connecting key education stakeholders, fostering dialogue, and building partnerships geared toward equitable learning opportunities for all children.

The cup’s namesake, Dr. Sara Ruto, continues to inspire many through her lifelong commitment to transforming education systems and promoting citizen-led learning. As founder of Zizi Afrique and former CEO of the PAL Network, Dr. Ruto has relentlessly championed numerous societal initiatives to ensure that every child, regardless of background, can learn and thrive.

The Tenda Wema initiative—Swahili for “Do Good”—remains at the heart of this mission, with the funds raised through the Sara Cup directly supporting disadvantaged learners, empowering them to pursue education and build brighter futures.

Despite occasional downpours, the spirit of the event remained undampened as spectators and participants alike shared moments of joy, camaraderie, and shared purpose.

The fifth edition was not just about winning trophies—it was about building hope, strengthening community bonds, and affirming the transformative power of education.