Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
Sunday, 2 August 2026
Friday, 31 July 2026
CHINESE MARTIAL ART WUSHU GAINS POPULARITY AMONG AFRICAN YOUTHS
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| Wushu players during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa |
An ancient Chinese martial art is finding a growing following among young people in Africa, with practitioners in Kenya embracing Wushu not only as a competitive sport, but also as a path to discipline, self-control and cultural exchange.
Athletes from across Kenya gathered in the capital Nairobi for a Wushu competition organized by the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, highlighting the sport's expanding appeal in the East African nation.
Blending athleticism, artistry and centuries of Chinese tradition, Wushu features graceful sword routines, powerful kicks, acrobatic jumps and lightning-fast strikes that demand precision, balance and endurance.
A sport inspired by cinema and culture
For 22-year-old competitor Elvis Munyasya, the journey into Wushu began with martial arts films and online videos.
"What inspired me a lot was action movies," Munyasya said. "Then I came across Wushu performances on YouTube, and that is what inspired me to start training."
He says every movement in Wushu tells a story, and every performance reflects years of training, sacrifice and determination.
For many participants, competitions provide an opportunity to measure their progress and learn from other athletes.
"This is where you come and see the level of your performance. Competing with other athletes helps you understand where you are, and you learn a lot," Munyasya added.
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| Wushu player Elvis Munyasya during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa |
More than a martial art
For fellow competitor Veronica Wambui, Wushu has become a tool for personal growth and emotional discipline.
"It teaches you how to control yourself," she said. "If someone insults you, you do not react immediately. You learn to withhold yourself or walk away. There is a lot of discipline in Wushu.”
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| Wushu player Veronica Wambui during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa |
Practitioners say the sport builds confidence, resilience and respect while introducing them to aspects of Chinese culture and philosophy.
Building bridges through sport
Organizers believe Wushu can play a broader role beyond athletic competition.
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| Professor Xiaodong Zhou, Director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa |
"Martial arts is not only physical movement; it is also a culture," Director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, Professor Xiaodong Zhou said. "Through this culture, people learn how to deal with others. Martial arts can improve health, strengthen character and create connections between people."
Zhou said Wushu has the potential to deepen cultural ties between Africa and China by encouraging mutual understanding through sport. Organizers hope it marks the beginning of a new chapter for Wushu in Kenya.
As interest in the sport continues to grow, supporters believe it could become an important platform for youth development, cultural exchange and stronger people-to-people relations between Kenya and China.
- Halligan Agade
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Monday, 13 July 2026
KENYA WINS RWANDA MOUNTAIN GORILLA RALLY IN BUGESERA, RWANDA
Spectators and supporters from Kenya celebrate the awards won by Kenyan pilots during the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally in Bugesera, Rwanda, July 12, 2026. The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is one of four official rounds of the 2026 FIA African Rally Championship. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
A Kenyan flag is displayed by the winners of 1st and 3rd place of the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally in Bugesera, Rwanda, July 12, 2026. The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is one of four official rounds of the 2026 FIA African Rally Championship. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
Huwel Ahmed and his co-driver Solanki Roheet from Tanzania race during the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally in Bugesera, Rwanda, July 12, 2026. The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is one of four official rounds of the 2026 FIA African Rally Championship. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
Kenya's Karan Patel stands and poses for a picture near his Skoda Fabia R5 that gave him the victory as the African Rally Champion during the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally in Bugesera, Rwanda, July 12, 2026. The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is one of four official rounds of the 2026 FIA African Rally Championship. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
Huwel Ahmed (2nd L) and his co-driver Solanki Roheet both from Tanzania pose after receiving their 2nd place winner award from The President of Rwanda Automobile Club Christian Gakwaya (1st R) and the mayor of Bugesera district Richard Mutabazi (1st L) at the end of the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally in Bugesera, Rwanda, July 12, 2026. The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is one of four official rounds of the 2026 FIA African Rally Championship. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
Karan Patel and his co-driver Tauseef Khan from Kenya race during the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally in Bugesera, Rwanda, July 12, 2026. The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is one of four official rounds of the 2026 FIA African Rally Championship. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
Virani Aakif and his co-driver Shah Zahir from Kenya race during the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally in Bugesera, Rwanda, July 12, 2026. The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is one of four official rounds of the 2026 FIA African Rally Championship. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
- Xinhua
Saturday, 11 July 2026
THE MAN FROM ANOTHER PLANET 🌍 | EMMANUEL WANYONYI BREAKS 1000M WORLD RECORD
🇰🇪’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered a performance for the ages in Monaco, running a sensational 2:11.83* to set a new 1000m world record at the #DiamondLeague 🔥
The Kenyan lowered a mark that had stood for almost 27 years by just 0.13 seconds 😮💨
WR flash report 🔗 bit.ly/4aNZWh8
*Pending the usual ratification procedures
- World Athletics
Wednesday, 8 July 2026
Monday, 29 June 2026
NINE AFRICAN COUNTRIES RECORDED THE HIGHEST CANADIAN VISITOR VISA REVECTION RATES AHEAD OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP
Highest visa rejection rates (2026 World Cup)
1. 🇨🇩 DRC - Refusal Rate: 96.1% - Approved: 15 - Refused: 370 - Total Processed: 385
2. 🇰🇪 Kenya - Refusal Rate: 91.1% - Approved: 20 - Refused: 205 - Total Processed: 225
3. 🇬🇭 Ghana - Refusal Rate: 89.3% - Approved: 185 - Refused: 1,540 - Total Processed: 1,725
4. 🇨🇲 Cameroon - Refusal Rate: 87.0% - Approved: 15 - Refused: 100 - Total Processed: 115
5. 🇳🇬 Nigeria - Refusal Rate: 86.0% - Approved: 110 - Refused: 675 - Total Processed: 785
6. 🇸🇳 Senegal - Refusal Rate: 85.3% - Approved: 25 - Refused: 145 - Total Processed: 170
7. 🇪🇹 Ethiopia - Refusal Rate: 78.6% - Approved: 30 - Refused: 110 - Total Processed: 140
8. 🇩🇿 Algeria - Refusal Rate: 73.5% - Approved: 65 - Refused: 180 - Total Processed: 245
9. 🇪🇬 Egypt - Refusal Rate: 59.1% - Approved: 225 - Refused: 325 - Total Processed: 550
Source: CTVNews/Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Sunday, 28 June 2026
Tuesday, 9 June 2026
YOUNG AFRICANS SIGN BURKINABÉ NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER FROM POLICE KENYA
DONE DEAL: Last night, Yanga completed the signing of the number 9 striker from Police Kenya and the Burkina Faso national team 🇧🇫, Yves Koutiama (27).
Everything is finalized — Yves Koutiama has joined Yanga on a two-year deal.
The star player joined Police in January this year and managed to score 10 goals in the Kenyan Premier League.
Yanga have terminated his two-year contract with Police.
Monday, 1 June 2026
EBOLA CONCERNS FORCE FIBA TO MOVE U18 AFROBASKET FROM UGANDA 🇺🇬
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| Hoima Indoor Arena |
Uganda’s aspirations of hosting the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Zone V Qualifiers have suffered a devastating blow after FIBA Africa stripped the country of its hosting rights, citing public health anxieties over the ongoing Ebola concern.
The regional youth tournament, originally slated to showcase Uganda’s newly minted Hoima City Arena, has been abruptly relocated to Egypt and will now run from June 10 to 15, 2026.
In a statement confirming the relocation, FIBA Africa emphasised that the safety and well-being of young athletes, technical officials and travelling delegations remained the governing body’s top priority.
The decision follows a surge in regional health concerns linked to the Ebola strain.
While the outbreak originated in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, recent confirmed cases and exposures within Uganda prompted local health authorities to implement strict surveillance and containment protocols.
Faced with an unpredictable health landscape, continental basketball officials opted to move the tournament to safer ground.
The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) confirmed the development on Sunday, expressing profound disappointment while acknowledging the necessity of the decision.
The news is a bitter pill to swallow for local sports sub-sectors. The newly constructed Hoima City Arena was expected to make its international debut with this tournament, a milestone intended to market Hoima as a premier regional sporting destination.
The event was set to draw top youth talent from across East Africa, including Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, and South Sudan.
Beyond the logistical and economic disappointment, the decision robs Uganda of a critical competitive edge.
In 2024, the Junior Silverbacks and Junior Gazelles capitalised on passionate home support to sweep both the boys’ and girls’ Zone V titles.
Now, Uganda’s reigning champions must defend their regional supremacy on foreign soil.
Despite the setback, FUBA officials maintained a resilient outlook, thanking fans, corporate partners, and stakeholders for their understanding.
The federation pledged its unyielding support to the youth squads as they pivot from hosts to international travelers.
With the qualifiers just days away, the focus shifts entirely to Cairo. FUBA is expected to release the final travel itineraries and logistical arrangements for the Ugandan contingent in the coming days as the teams prepare to fight for a coveted spot in the continental AfroBasket finals.
- EDWIN KYLE KULE
Monday, 25 May 2026
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Thursday, 30 April 2026
MARATHON RECORD-BREAKER SEBASTIAN SAWE GIFTED A CAR BY KENYAN PRESIDENT AS HE RETURNS HOME TO HERO'S WELCOME
Sabastian Sawe has returned to Kenya following his historic run at the London Marathon
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| President William Ruto with record breaking marathoner Sebastian Sawe in State House, Nairobi on April 30, 2026. |
Sabastian Sawe, the first athlete to officially break the two-hour barrier in a marathon, has been welcomed home to Kenya with a hero’s reception, including a water cannon salute for his arriving aircraft.
The record-breaker was subsequently awarded $61,000 (£45,000) and a new car by the president.
Mr Sawe’s return on Wednesday saw him greeted by his parents and Sports Minister Salim Mvurya, who lauded the runner’s achievement at the London Marathon as "a win for Kenya."
On Thursday, President William Ruto hosted a formal ceremony, describing Mr Sawe’s victory as "a defining moment in the history of human endurance."
During the event, Mr Sawe presented President Ruto with an autographed Adidas Adizero shoe, worn during Sunday’s race, along with a signed photograph commemorating his world record moment.
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| Sawe was given a hero's welcome (Getty) |
Mr Sawe made history on Sunday by completing the marathon in an astonishing 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, shaving 65 seconds off the previous men’s world record.
Upon his arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, he expressed his pride at having "made a great achievement in life" and vowed to "try and lower the record further."
The athlete was adorned with a traditional wreath of twigs, symbolising victory, as traditional dancers celebrated his return. He was then escorted into a luxury government vehicle, part of the "heroic welcome" orchestrated by the sports minister.
His parents shared their long-held belief in their son’s destiny for greatness. His mother, Emily Sawe, recalled his childhood speed: "He would run too fast. So, I would say to myself, this boy will shine for me one day."
His father, Simion Kiplagat Sawe, recounted the tension of watching Sunday’s race due to a poor television signal.
"The moment my son pulled in front, I walked out and didn’t see him finish the race. I watched the replay afterwards. I was so happy, extremely happy. We screamed so much that now it is hard to swallow anything," he said.
Sawe’s introduction to professional running came through his uncle, Abraham Chepkirwok, an 800-metre Olympian for Uganda at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Having won the Valencia Marathon in 2024 with a time of 2:02:05, Sawe entered Sunday’s London race as the defending champion.
His father affirmed his son’s unwavering determination, stating: "Even now, he still says that record was not enough; he wants to lower it further."
- Evelyne Musambi
Monday, 27 April 2026
FROM HARVARD LABS TO KIPCHOGE'S HOME
Gabby Thomas’s path to Nyayo Stadium's track is anything but typical. While rivals turned pro at 20, she was at Harvard earning a degree in neurobiology and global health, graduating in 2019 after smashing the NCAA 200m record with 22.38.
Since then, the medals piled up: Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze in the 200m and 4x100m silver. Budapest 2023 World Championship silver in the 200m and 4x100m gold. Then Paris 2024, where she completed the triple: Olympic gold in the 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m.
All while finishing a master’s in public health at UT Austin and championing STEM access. She analyzes races like research problems. Nairobi was her latest experiment, and the hypothesis held: speed travels.
The Kip Keino Classic honors Kenya’s greatest miler but today it crowned a sprinter. The 100m/200m double is the sport’s toughest ask: pure power, then lactic acid management, with minimal recovery. To do it with 11.01 and 21.89 at altitude puts Thomas in elite company.
Her 11.01 is a one of her best performances and a message to the 100m field. Her 21.89 ties her season’s best and proves Nairobi’s altitude is no barrier when your turnover is that clean.
Thomas laughed post-race, draped in both the US and Kenyan flags fans handed her: “I came here hoping to deliver my best and I did exactly that', she said.
With World Championships on the horizon, Gabby Thomas just used Nyayo Stadium as a warning shot. The neuroscience grad is still running experiments in human potential. Result of today’s trial: double gold.
- Wambui Muigai
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
TWINS FROM KENYA WON TOGETHER IN ISTANBUL
Kenyan TWIN brothers Alex Matata and Charles Matata won the Istanbul Half Marathon 2026 together after running the whole race side by side 🇰🇪
They finished together at the same time, sharing the win
Alex, the defending champion, won the race in 60:01, but his brother Charles was right there with him.
#Athletics #Kenya #IstanbulHalfMarathon #Running #Champions #dhktv #champions
Sunday, 22 March 2026
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