Kenya set for first-ever World Rafting World Cup Series
Reading Time: 4min | Tue. 30.06.26. | 22:00
The federation also sees rafting as more than a competitive sport, describing it as an avenue for youth empowerment, employment and sports tourism
Kenya is ready to make history by hosting the World Rafting World Cup Series for the first time, with the Kenya Rafting Federation (KRF) confirming that all key preparations have been completed ahead of the week-long championship in Sagana.
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The event, scheduled for Sunday, 5 to Sunday, 12 July, is expected to attract athletes and officials from 35 countries, with teams from 19 nations set to battle it out on the white waters of River Sagana in one of the biggest rafting competitions ever staged on African soil.
Kenya Rafting Federation National Treasurer Ibrahim Mbogo Mwangi expressed confidence that both the organisers and Team Kenya are fully prepared for the landmark event.
"We are ready as Team Kenya, and even as officials, we have done our best to ensure everything is in place.
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," said Mwangi.
Team Kenya earned their places after the recent national trials held in Sagana and will be hoping to build on last year's encouraging performances at the African Championships, when they faced some of the world's leading rafting nations.
Beyond the medals, the federation believes the World Cup Series will mark a turning point in the development of rafting in Kenya by introducing the sport to a wider audience and establishing the country as a destination capable of hosting major international competitions.
Kenya Rafting Federation Secretary General William Kariuki Kinuthia said rafting has existed in Kenya for nearly four decades but has largely been viewed as a commercial tourism activity rather than a competitive sport.
The federation, established in 2024, is now working to change that perception by creating pathways for Kenyan athletes to compete at the highest level.
"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.
He explained that Sagana was selected to host the World Cup because it already meets international standards, having been certified by the International Canoe Federation during preparations for the 2008 African Olympic canoeing qualifiers.
According to Kinuthia, it remains Kenya's only internationally certified white-water competition venue, although the federation has identified several other rivers with similar potential.
However, he noted that expanding the sport remains a challenge because suitable rapids alone are not enough to host international competitions.
"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," he explained.
The federation also sees rafting as more than a competitive sport, describing it as an avenue for youth empowerment, employment and sports tourism.
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Mwangi said the discipline offers career opportunities in coaching, river guiding and tourism while complementing the Competency-Based Curriculum by providing young people with alternative pathways to develop their talents.
Despite the optimism, officials admitted that the high cost of equipment continues to slow the sport's growth in the country.
A competition-standard raft costs about $2,000 (Ksh259,000), while commercial rafts range between $5,000 (Ksh647,000) and $10,000 (Ksh2.3 million). Professional paddles cost approximately $500 (Ksh65,000) each, making it expensive for clubs and institutions to invest in the sport.
The federation credited the State Department for Sports for supporting preparations for the World Cup and called on Kenyans to turn up in large numbers to witness the historic event.
"We want people to come to Sagana and experience rafting for themselves. This is more than just a competition; it is an opportunity to showcase Kenya and introduce more people to a sport with enormous potential," Mwangi said.
What is rafting?
Rafting is a water sport in which teams navigate fast-flowing rivers using inflatable rafts, working together to steer through rapids and other natural obstacles.
Each paddler plays a specific role in controlling the raft under the guidance of a trained instructor or team captain, with success depending on teamwork, physical fitness, coordination and quick decision-making.
Before entering the water, participants are equipped with essential safety gear, including life jackets and helmets, and receive comprehensive safety instructions to help them negotiate different grades of rapids safely.