Kenya enters race to host 2026 World Rafting Championships

Kenya has shown interest in hosting the global event following a successful first edition of the African Rafting Championship that was held on the River Sagana in Murang’a County last week.

Kenya Rafting Federation Secretary General William Kinuthia, who will lead a delegation to present the bid to the International Rafting Federation (IRF), says River Sagana meets all the international requirements to host the event.

“River Sagana has the best course in Africa and that’s why the just concluded event was held in Kenya. The river has held Olympic qualifiers before and it is ready to host any global white-water rafting event.

“The waters in the river also do not have the threat of crocodiles and hippos and this also gives us an advantage over other countries. We are ready to convince the world that Kenya is ready to welcome the World Championships next year,” Kinuthia told Citizen Digital.

A successful bid would make Kenya the second country in Africa to host the event after South Africa in 1999.

In Murang'a, Kenya emerged champions after sweeping all gold medals on offer to bag the single ticket reserved for Africa at this year’s Senior World Rafting Championships that will be held from November 3 to 9 in Argentina.

“Now that Kenya will feature at this year’s global event, this will also strengthen our bid to host the event next year.”

In the four-day event that attracted 11 countries, Kenya bossed their opponents in the waters, securing top positions in the Slalom races for both men and women, the Downriver competition in both categories, the Rx event, and the Mixed Slalom that featured both male and female athletes.

And as part of Kenya’s preparations for the global event, the team will take part in the East Africa Ocean Rafting Championships to be held in Mombasa on October 9-12.

The squad will also pitch camp in Uganda to use the River Nile course for more training.

This year’s World Rafting Championship will feature nearly 400 athletes from around 30 countries in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.