Focus now shifts to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games scheduled for October 31 to November 13 in Dakar, Senegal after Kenya finished as the best-performing nation at the 2026 ANOCA Zone 5 Youth Games.
Kenya had an impressive medal haul across the three-day event staged in Nairobi and Murang’a from August 25-27.
The hosts amassed 50 medals, comprising 22 gold, 21 silver and seven bronze, to lead the final standings. Uganda were second with six gold, seven silver and 10 bronze, followed by Ethiopia (5-3-2), Rwanda (2-1-6), South Sudan (1-2-6), Burundi (1-0-0), the Refugee Team (0-1-1), Sudan (0-0-1) and Tanzania (0-0-1). Somalia ended the Games without a medal.
Kenya also dominated the gender rankings, topping the boys’ standings with 12 gold, 10 silver and four bronze, while the girls registered nine gold, 11 silver and four bronze.
The Games were contested in athletics, swimming, 3x3 basketball, judo, cycling, tennis and beach volleyball, with more than 300 athletes representing 11 countries.
At Kenyatta University, 16-year-old Seline Ahoya delivered one of Kenya’s standout performances by claiming girls’ tennis singles gold without losing a match. She defeated Uganda’s Lilian Ayee 6-3, 6-2 in the final, while compatriot Nancy Kawira won silver after beating Jenerica Thuku 6-1, 6-2. Ayee took bronze.
Ahoya said her success was the result of consistent training, physical fitness, footwork and proper nutrition, adding that the tournament had reinforced the importance of perseverance.
Kawira noted that the silver medal had strengthened her determination to work harder, with American star Coco Gauff serving as her inspiration.
Uganda’s Samuel Okello, the boys’ top seed, denied Kenya another singles gold by beating Mark Murage 6-1, 6-1 in the final. Edward Mwakio secured bronze after defeating Jyan Patel 6-2, 6-0, while Dohn Kelly Ochieng placed fifth.
Murage noted that he would concentrate on improving his attacking game and hoped to compete in ITF tournaments in Nairobi. Okello, 15, said the victory was special and set his sights on the East African Under-18 Championship in Burundi.
ANOCA Zone 5 president Donald Rukare commended Kenya for successfully hosting the Games, praising the quality of facilities, accommodation, catering and organisation. He said the event offered athletes aged 14-18 an important route towards senior and elite competition.
Tennis Kenya president Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani thanked Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia for providing competitive matches, while KU Director of Sports Dr Francis Mundia Mwangi said the event had contributed to improving university facilities and demonstrated KU’s capacity to host major competitions.
In beach volleyball, Kenya completed a clean sweep of the two gold medals.
Eddah Jepkemei and Ann Akiro of Kenya 1 rallied from a set down to defeat fellow Kenyans Esther Chesoli and Josephine Achieng 2-1 (18-21, 21-14, 15-12) in the girls’ final.
Emmanuel Kipkirui and Reagan Kipchirchir then beat Uganda’s Emmanuel James Oyena and Reagan Kimbowa 2-0 (21-14, 21-19) for the boys’ title.
South Sudan took bronze in both categories. Jepkemei said improved communication and determination helped them recover after losing the opening set, while Akiro hailed the tournament for giving them exposure and international experience.
Kipkirui shared that the competition was valuable preparation for the Youth Olympic Games.
In cycling, Rwanda’s Akimana Donatha and Ethiopia’s Legese Selemon Gebreselasie also completed golden doubles after following their Individual Time Trial victories with road race triumphs.
Donatha won the women’s 60km race in 1:52:05, beating Kenya’s Mercy Aregae, who took silver in 1:52:57. Ethiopia’s Mahder Desta Niguse was third in 1:55:38 after mechanical problems disrupted her challenge.
Selemon claimed the men’s 80km race in 2:16:31. Rwanda’s Shema Emmanuel was second in 2:16:34, while Kenya’s Victor Ngugi Githae took bronze in 2:16:33. Frankline Kibet, Geoffrey Chege Mburu and Mevin Njuguna completed the Kenyan top six.
Kenya were particularly dominant in swimming, collecting 23 medals (12 gold, 10 silver and one bronze).
Macrine Kalombo won the women’s 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, while Isabelle Mwangi took 50m freestyle gold after finishing second behind Kalombo in the 100m.
Yannick Muigai led a Kenyan sweep of the men’s 200m freestyle, with Isaiah Gitonga taking silver. Jeremy Rieck won both butterfly events, while Andrew Ogola secured silver in each.
Lisa Kamphuis added 50m backstroke gold and 50m butterfly silver. Kenya also won the mixed 4x100m freestyle and medley relays.
Uganda finished second in the swimming medal standings with three gold, three silver and three bronze, while Rwanda won six bronze medals. Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan each secured one bronze.
In 3x3 basketball, Kenya won the girls’ title, while South Sudan emerged champions in the boys’ competition.
Kenya 2, the Under-17 girls’ side, went unbeaten across all three stops to score the maximum 300 points. Uganda took silver on 200 points, followed by South Sudan on 180, Kenya 1 on 140 and Ethiopia on 80.
Chelsea Onamu was named MVP after inspiring Kenya 2 to a 20-9 victory over Uganda in the final. Coach Eunice Ouma said the tournament had given the players a useful taste of the level they can expect at the Youth Olympics in Dakar.
South Sudan collected 160 points to win the boys’ competition, with Kenya 1 second on 140 and Kenya 2 third on 60. South Sudan’s Agot Deng was named MVP.
The remaining disciplines, athletics and judo, also formed part of the Games programme and contributed to the hosts’ overall success.
ANOCA Zone 5 Youth Games returned to East Africa after a seven-year break, providing a platform for young competitors from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burundi, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt to gain international experience and prepare for future elite competition.
