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In a stunning upset, Taita Taveta County claimed the overall title at the 2025 National Youth Games in Kakamega—topping the table with 342 points, ahead of perennial powerhouses Nairobi and Uasin Gishu. Their success came from dominance in athletics (12 golds), rugby 7s (boys & girls), and a surprise gold in mountain biking. Key standout: 16-year-old steeplechaser Salome Mwanzia (6:15.4 in 2000m), now under AK mentorship. The county’s Talent from the Hills program—using community scouts and solar-powered training lights—was hailed as a model for ASAL regions. Governor Andrew Mwadime pledged KSh 50 million for a youth sports complex in Voi. We proved talent isn’t born in cities—it’s nurtured everywhere, said team captain Evans Mwamburi.