Kenya dominate ANOCA Zone 5 Youth Games, win 50 medals

By Newsflash Reporter

Kenya emerged overall champions of the 2026 ANOCA Zone 5 Youth Games after dominating the three-day competition staged at Kenyatta University, the Kasarani Aquatic Centre and Thika Greens in Murang’a County from August 25 to 27.

The hosts topped the medal standings with 50 medals — 22 gold, 21 silver and seven bronze. Uganda finished 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 did not win a medal.

Kenya also topped the gender standings, winning the boys’ title with 12 gold, 10 silver and four bronze medals. The girls finished first with nine gold, 11 silver and four bronze.

The Games featured athletics, swimming, 3×3 basketball, judo, cycling, tennis and beach volleyball, bringing together more than 300 athletes from 11 countries.

Tennis

Kenya’s Seline Ahoya led the hosts’ impressive performance in tennis, winning girls’ singles gold while compatriot Nancy Kawira took silver at Kenyatta University.

Ahoya, 16, completed an unbeaten campaign by defeating Uganda’s Lilian Ayee 6-3, 6-2 in the final. Kawira secured silver after beating Jenerica Thuku 6-1, 6-2, while Ayee settled for bronze.

Ahoya attributed her success to hard work, fitness, footwork and good nutrition, saying the title had taught her never to give up.

Athletes from various countries in action during the ANOCA games. Photo/ANOCA

Kawira said the silver medal had motivated her to train harder. She identified American star Coco Gauff as her role model because of her energy.

In the boys’ event, Uganda’s top seed Samuel Okello defeated Kenya’s Mark Murage 6-1, 6-1 for gold. Kenya’s Edward Mwakio won bronze after beating Jyan Patel 6-2, 6-0, while Dohn Kelly Ochieng finished fifth.

Murage said he would work on attacking short balls as he prepares to compete in ITF events in Nairobi.

Okello, 15, said winning gold for Uganda felt good and set his sights on the East African Under-18 Championship in Burundi.

Patel, also 15, described his bronze medal as incredible and said he would pursue ITF points in Nairobi.

ANOCA Zone 5 president Donald Rukare praised Kenya’s organisation of the Games, saying facilities, accommodation, catering and the overall organisation had received positive feedback from participating countries and the Refugee Team.

Rukare added that the Games provide an important pathway for athletes aged 14 to 18 to progress towards senior and elite sport.

Tennis Kenya president Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani said four countries competed in the tennis event, thanking Tanzania, Uganda and Somalia for providing strong matches despite tennis being relegated to demonstration status at the Dakar Games.

Kenyatta University Director of Sports Dr Francis Mundia Mwangi said hosting the Games had helped upgrade facilities and reaffirmed the university’s readiness to partner in major sporting events.

Ahoya’s teacher and coach, Melissa Juliet, said the youngster had remained motivated despite feeling unwell and would be celebrated by Lavington Girls Secondary School after also winning in Morogoro.

Beach volleyball

Kenya completed a memorable beach volleyball sweep by winning both the girls’ and boys’ gold medals.

Kenya 1, comprising Eddah Jepkemei and Ann Akiro, recovered from losing the opening set to beat compatriots Esther Chesoli and Josephine Achieng of Kenya 2 by 2-1 (18-21, 21-14, 15-12).

In the boys’ final, Emmanuel Kipkirui and Reagan Kipchirchir of Kenya 1 defeated Uganda’s Emmanuel James Oyena and Reagan Kimbowa 2-0 (21-14, 21-19).

South Sudan’s Marial Makuer and Malval Mandut won boys’ bronze after beating Kenya 2’s Askenas Kipkorir and Collins Kipkosgei 2-0 (21-16, 21-17). South Sudan also took girls’ bronze in a competition that featured three teams.

Basketball players in action. Photo/ANOCA

Jepkemei credited improved communication and fighting spirit for their comeback victory, while Akiro said the tournament offered valuable exposure and an opportunity to learn about different cultures.

Kipkirui said the competition was useful preparation for the Youth Olympic Games, where they expect tougher opposition.

Cycling

Rwanda’s Akimana Donatha and Ethiopia’s Legese Selemon Gebreselasie each completed a double in cycling, adding road race gold to their Individual Time Trial victories.

Donatha won the women’s 60km road race in 1:52:05, ahead of Kenya’s Mercy Aregae in 1:52:57 and Ethiopia’s Mahder Desta Niguse in 1:55:38.

Niguse had been challenging for gold before mechanical problems forced her to change bicycles, leaving her five kilometres behind the leaders.

Aregae, an Africa School Games bronze medallist and Grade 10 learner at Tendwa Girls in Uasin Gishu County, said the confidence she gained from the ITT helped her improve to silver.

Selemon won 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 claimed bronze in 2:16:33.

Kenya’s Frankline Kibet was fourth in 2:16:35, Geoffrey Chege Mburu fifth in 2:16:39 and Mevin Njuguna sixth in 2:17:00.

Donatha said her double gold was important preparation for the Youth Olympic Games, while Selemon said his endurance had helped him secure a second victory.

Swimming

Kenya’s dominance was also evident in the pool, where the hosts collected 12 gold, 10 silver and one bronze medal for a total of 23.

Macrine Kalombo won the women’s 100m freestyle in 1:03.01 before adding 50m breaststroke gold in 37.05.

Isabelle Mwangi won the women’s 50m freestyle in 29.01 after taking silver behind Kalombo in the 100m freestyle.

Kenya swept the men’s 200m freestyle podium, led by Yannick Muigai’s gold in 2:08.68 ahead of teammate Isaiah Gitonga in 2:09.45.

Volleyball players in action. Photo/ANOCA

Jeremy Rieck added gold in the men’s 50m butterfly in 25.66 and 100m butterfly in 58.83, with Andrew Ogola taking silver in both events.

Lisa Kamphuis won the women’s 50m backstroke in 33.12 and took silver in the 50m butterfly in 30.70.

Kenya also won the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay in 4:04.20 through Rieck, Gitonga, Kalombo and Mwangi, as well as the mixed 4x100m medley relay in 4:51.08.

Uganda came second in swimming with three gold, three silver and three bronze medals, while Rwanda collected six bronze medals. Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan each won one bronze.

Swimming co-director Collins Marigiri said the performances demonstrated the depth of Kenya’s junior swimming programme and gave young athletes valuable international exposure ahead of future competitions and the Dakar Youth Olympic Games.

3×3 basketball

Kenya won the girls’ 3×3 basketball title while South Sudan ruled the boys’ competition.

Kenya 2, the Under-17 side, won all three stops in the girls’ tournament to collect a maximum 300 points. Uganda finished second with 200 points, South Sudan third with 180, Kenya 1 fourth with 140 and Ethiopia fifth with 80.

Chelsea Onamu was named girls’ MVP after leading Kenya 2 to a 20-9 victory over Uganda in Thursday’s final.

Onamu said the win was especially satisfying against Uganda, who have dominated Kenya at senior level, adding that the tournament was ideal preparation for Dakar.

Coach Eunice Ouma said the players now had a taste of what to expect at the Youth Olympics and had demonstrated that they could compete against the best.

South Sudan won the boys’ title with 160 points after winning the first two stops and finishing second in the third. Kenya 1 took silver with 140 points, while Kenya 2 finished third with 60.

South Sudan’s Agot Deng was named boys’ MVP.

Kenya 1 won the third-stop final 21-18, but South Sudan’s consistency across the competition secured the overall title.

Athletics and judo

Athletics and judo were also among the seven disciplines contested during the Games, contributing to Kenya’s overall medal haul and providing young athletes from across the Zone with an important regional platform.

The Games, which returned to East Africa after a seven-year hiatus, brought together young athletes from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burundi, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt.