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State House Girls school perform a Pokot dance during the Nairobi Region Music Festival on July 4, 2026. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]
The 2026 Nairobi Regional Kenya Music Festival produced a new generation of champions as little-known day schools stunned established powerhouses, signaling a major shift in the region's performing arts landscape ahead of the national championships.
Several day schools emerged as surprise winners, with teachers attributing the turnaround to better preparation and stability compared to some boarding schools whose training programmes were disrupted by recent waves of school unrest.
Among the biggest surprises was Moi Education Centre which dethroned seasoned competitors winning the Negro Spiritual class, PSC set piece, second in Central Bank of Kenya set pieces and the Equity bank composition. The school also posted good results in bass solo, and piano duets advanced and beginner. Additionally, the school emerged best mixed choir in Nairobi region.
