Preparations are in the final stages ahead of the World
Rafting World Cup Series, set to take place in Sagana from July 5 to
12, with the Kenya Rafting Federation expressing confidence that the country is
ready to host one of the biggest rafting events ever staged on the continent
The championship is expected to attract participants and
officials from 35 countries, with teams from 19 nations competing on the white
waters of River Sagana
Kenya Rafting Federation National Treasurer Ibrahim Mbogo
Mwangi told Sporty Monday programme,
Citizen TV, that organisers have finalised key logistical arrangements, while
Team Kenya has completed its preparations for the competition
“We are ready as
Team Kenya, and even as officials we have done our best to ensure everything is
in place,” Mwangi said. “We have a young team, and this competition
presents a great opportunity for them to grow by competing against some of the
best athletes in the world.”
The Kenyan team was selected during recent national trials
held in Sagana and will be looking to build on last year‘s success at the
<a href="https://absafricatv.com/smart-africa-eaco-to-advance-digital-transformation/” title=”Smart Africa, EACO to advance digital transformation”>African Championships
Beyond the competition, the federation believes hosting the
World Cup Series will elevate the profile of rafting, a sport that has existed
in Kenya for decades but has largely been associated with adventure tourism
Secretary General William Kariuki Kinuthia said rafting has
been practised in Kenya for nearly 40 years, primarily as a commercial tourism
activity, before the federation was established in 2024 to promote it as a
competitive sport
“For many years,
rafting was known as a tourism product. We formed the federation because we
wanted Kenya to compete internationally and gain recognition for rafting as an
official sport.”
Kinuthia said Sagana was selected because it meets
international competition standards. The course was certified by the
International Canoe Federation during preparations for the 2008 African Olympic
canoeing qualifiers and remains Kenya’s only internationally approved
white-water venue
He added that although the federation has identified several
other rivers with the potential to host competitions, expanding the sport
remains challenging due to infrastructure requirements and land ownership along
river corridors
“You need more than suitable rapids. International
competitions require changing rooms, sanitation facilities, reliable access
roads and other amenities before a venue can be approved.”
The federation also views rafting as a platform for youth
development and job creation. According to Mwangi, the sport offers
opportunities beyond competition, including coaching, river guiding and sports
tourism, while complementing the Competency-Based Curriculum by providing
alternative pathways for young people to develop their talents
Officials, however, acknowledged that the high cost of
specialised equipment remains one of the biggest barriers to the sport’s
growth. A competition raft costs about USD2, 000, while commercial rafts range
between USD 5,000 and USD 10,000. A professional paddle costs approximately USD500,
making the sport expensive to establish and expand
The federation credited the State Department for Sports for
supporting preparations for the World Cup event and called on Kenyans to attend
the championship and experience the sport first-hand
“We want people
to come to Sagana and experience rafting for themselves,” Mwangi said.
“This is more than just a competition; it is an opportunity to showcase
Kenya and introduce more people to a sport with enormous potential.”
