Kenya is scaling up structured talent development programmes to train more than 10,000 young athletes as the government works to produce a new generation of sports stars ready to compete on the global stage.
On Monday, President William Ruto shared the figure at State House as he hosted the Harambee Junior Starlets. The team had qualified for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, and the president said their performance shows why grassroots investment must remain central to Kenya’s sports future.
Ruto explained that the athletes take part in programmes delivered through schools, county governments and the Kenya Academy of Sports. Within these systems, officials identify promising talent early, support its growth, and prepare selected players for high-level competition.
“At the grassroots, more than 10,000 young athletes are currently enrolled in structured development programmes run through our schools, county governments and the Kenya Academy of Sports,” Ruto said.
He added that several members of the Junior Starlets squad, including Elizabeth Opiyo, Gaudencia Maloba, and Brenda Awour, developed through these pathways. He noted that the players first emerged through competitions organised by the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association and also gained experience through the Kenya Academy of Sports holiday camps.
The President said the government’s support goes beyond spotting young talent. It also targets the people who drive athlete development nationwide, building the capacity needed to sustain improvement in training and performance.
He also revealed that the Kenya Academy of Sports and various national sports federations have trained more than 6,000 coaches, trainers, physiotherapists and sports administrators. He said the specialised training strengthens athlete development and raises coaching standards across the country.
The President said sustained investment in youth development sets consistently successful sporting nations apart from countries that depend on individual talent alone.
“This achievement is not an accident, and it must not be a one-off. Nations that consistently excel in sport invest in young people long before the world knows their names,” he said.
The announcement followed the Harambee Junior Starlets’ qualification for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup for the second straight time. The side secured its place by defeating South Africa 5-1 on aggregate, earning a spot at the tournament in Morocco.
Ruto urged the team to build on its previous World Cup appearance by targeting progress beyond the group stage. He said Kenya has already shown that it can take on some of the world’s strongest football nations.
The figures released by the government point to a broader effort to strengthen grassroots sports development. Officials expect that long-term investment in young athletes and coaching structures will help produce future champions across multiple sporting disciplines.
