Nine countries and a refugee delegation have converged at Kenyatta University (KU) for the ANOC Zone V Youth Games, positioning the University as a hub for sporting excellence, youth development, regional integration and peace.
The Games, which opened on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, bring together young athletes from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, competing in beach volleyball, 3×3 basketball, judo, swimming, tennis and cycling.
For Kenyatta University, hosting the Games goes beyond providing a competition venue. It advances the University’s commitment to nurturing talent, developing future leaders and using sport to foster peace, inclusion and regional engagement.
The week-long competition gives young athletes valuable exposure, allowing them to test their abilities against regional peers while developing confidence, discipline and resilience.
Speaking on behalf of the host institution, Vice-Chancellor Prof. John Okumu said the University was privileged to co-host the Games, highlighting their role in creating opportunities for young people and strengthening connections between nations.
He emphasised KU’s vision of producing not only sporting champions, but ambassadors of peace who can use their platforms to promote understanding and friendship across borders.
The Games also offer an important pathway towards bigger international stages, including the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, while giving athletes experience in competing under pressure and responding to both victory and disappointment.
The message from organisers was clear: talent must be matched by character.
The Chair of the Local Organising Committee urged the athletes to “dare to dream big”, while NOCK President Mr Shadrack Maluki challenged them to compete with passion, win with humility and lose with dignity. He also stressed the importance of integrity and warned against doping and cheating.
The presence of retired Kenyan long-distance runner and peace activist Tegla Loroupe reinforced sport’s potential to transcend competition and contribute to peacebuilding.
Representing Cabinet Secretary Hon. Salim Mvurya, Principal Secretary for Sports Mr Elijah Mwangi described sport as a bridge-builder capable of creating connections that extend beyond the field of play.
The Games are further strengthening KU’s sporting infrastructure through support from NOCK, the Government of Kenya and the Ministry of Sports for a new beach volleyball court, enhancing opportunities for training, talent identification and high-level competition.
The legacy of the Games will therefore extend beyond medals, towards a generation equipped to compete, lead, connect and inspire.