Kenya: Kenya has made history by hosting the Rafting World Cup Series for the first time, with 35 teams from 18 countries competing on the Sagana River in Murang’a County from July 9 to 12.
According to Kenya News Agency, the championship, the first of its kind to be held on African soil, has attracted five Kenyan teams and is expected to showcase the country’s capacity to host major international sporting events while promoting adventure tourism and water sports.
President of the African Rafting Council, El Mamourn Belabbas, praised the Sagana River as one of the finest rafting venues he has encountered, describing the competition as a major milestone for the growth of the sport across Africa. He commended the Government of Kenya, the Kenya Rafting Federation led by William Kinuthia, organizers and participating teams for successfully staging the event.
Belabbas noted that more than 20 international teams had traveled to Kenya for the championship, reflecting growing global confidence in the country’s ability to host world-class sporting events. He further observed that Kenya’s competitive rafting standards had improved significantly since hosting the inaugural African Rafting Championship last year, expressing optimism that more African countries would establish national rafting federations to strengthen the sport across the continent.
Kenya Rafting Federation National Treasurer Ibrahim Mwangi described the event as a landmark achievement for both Kenya and Africa, saying it would open up new opportunities for young people while positioning rafting as an emerging competitive sport in the country. Mwangi said the federation was working with Murang’a University to integrate water sports into learning through the Competency-Based Education curriculum.
He added that the initiative would also promote conservation of the Tana River, noting that rafting depends on clean and well-protected waterways. He said the championship was already creating economic opportunities for local communities by attracting international visitors and fostering cultural exchange.
Among the competitors is Zimbabwean rafter Douglas Martin, who is visiting Kenya for the first time. Martin described Kenya as welcoming, saying the weather was similar to that of Zimbabwe and that local residents had made his team feel at home despite their unfamiliarity with the Sagana River. A veteran rafter who has competed since 1992, including on the Zambezi River, Martin admitted that his team had not performed well in the opening race but remained confident of improving in the subsequent events.
Spectator Eve Wangari described the championship as a proud moment for Kenya and the African continent, urging more Kenyans to attend the event to learn about rafting and support the competing teams. She said the tournament was not only raising the profile of the sport but also boosting tourism by attracting visitors from around the world. Wangari also applauded the teamwork and coordination demonstrated by the athletes, noting that rafting is a sport that demands discipline, trust, and unity.
Organizers expressed confidence that the championship will leave a lasting legacy by popularizing rafting, inspiring more young people to take up the sport, promoting environmental conservation and strengthening Kenya’s reputation as a preferred destination for international sporting events.
