When Nairobi Campus band turned a Sports Championship into a song
Sports championships are remembered for fierce competition, exciting victories and roaring crowds.
At the recent Kenya Medical Training College National Sports Championships in Kitui, one group gave the event a sound of its own.
When the KMTC Nairobi Campus Brass Band stepped forward, students accustomed to demanding classes, clinical training and long hours moved to a different rhythm.
For a few unforgettable moments, they melted hearts.
The 60-member, largely self-taught band made its debut in 2024 and is now entering its third year.
Its identity has grown around youthful energy, confident performances and a distinctive rendition of Jizatiti. Much of its sound is developed by the students themselves.
At the official opening ceremony of the 2026 KMTC National Sports Competitions on July 28, 2026, the band made a striking entrance in fluorescent yellow-green reflector jackets proudly branded with the KMTC logo.
It snaked its way towards the venue, leading Kitui County officials, led by County Executive Committee Member for Health Dr. Ruth Koki, alongside the College Management team led by CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch.
The band then opened the ceremony with the national and College anthems.
The harmonies were tight and assured. Voices rose above the instruments, giving the performance weight, warmth and a strong ceremonial presence.
The moment told another side of the future health professionals. They were students preparing to care for patients and using music to bring an entire community together.
Dr. Oluoch praised the band for taking on a role that would otherwise have required external performers.
“It is really exciting to see our students perform so well in a role that would otherwise be outsourced. I would like to see more students participating,” he said.
Throughout the championships, the band kept the tempo alive.
Between the whistles, cheers and calls from the field, its music carried spectators from one contest to the next. It became part of the atmosphere, giving the week a distinctive pulse.
By the closing ceremony on July 31, 2026, the band had become part of the championship story.
The students returned with another spirited performance, this time offering their rendition of "Yesu Kristo (Suduu)" by the Kenyan gospel group Wazee Wetu.
The song sent movement rippling through the pavilion. Board Chairperson Mr. Joseah K. Cheruiyot joined the dancing, followed by officials and spectators who had been seated only moments earlier.
The ceremony quickly turned into a celebration.
A few technical difficulties unsettled the early sets. The students continued seemingly unbothered, drawing energy from the audience’s warm response to each song.
The championships closed with another rendition of the national anthem.
By then, the band had left its mark.
The students arrived in Kitui as medical trainees and musicians. They left having shown that talent can take many forms.
