Wushu will make its debut as an official medal sport at the upcoming Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, marking a milestone for the Chinese martial art as practitioners in Kenya work to expand its reach among young people.
Ngaruiya Njonge, founder and president of the Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation, said the federation now has 12 affiliated clubs and runs programs in 26 public schools, reaching around 6,000 learners.
Founded as a club in Kiambu County in 2000, the federation has seen growing interest in wushu among young people in Kenya. Njonge hopes the sport’s debut at the Dakar Games will create more opportunities for its development. “We are growing, and many children are joining,” he said.
In July, Kenya held its inaugural national wushu competition in Nairobi, bringing together students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to showcase their skills in the Chinese martial art.
The fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from Oct 31 to Nov 13, marking the first Olympic event to be staged in Africa. According to the organizing committee, a total of 48 athletes from 47 countries and regions are expected to compete in the wushu taolu competition at Dakar 2026.
Pei Tuo and Shan Tianqing contributed to the story
