Kenya finishes seventh overall at African Youth Games

Kenya clinched 12 medals on the last day of the 2025 African Youth Games to place seventh overall with a total of 35 medals in the country’s first time to participate in the youthful fiesta held in Luanda, Angola.

Mercy Kerubo racked up three gold in weightlifting, while 3x3 beach basketball girls’ team won bronze on the final day as the Kenyan youngsters closed the championship campaign with seven gold, 11 silver and 17 bronze.

South Africa topped the final medal standings with a total of 99 medals—shattering the country’s previous record of 93 set in 2014.

The Games form part of a broader qualification pathway for Kenya's youth athletes ahead of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games to be held in Dakar, Senegal.

The Secretary of Administration in the State Department of Sports Evans Achoki, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to support the juniors ahead of the 2026 Youth Olympics to be held in Dakar, Senegal.

“Remember, this has been a precursor or a qualifier for the Olympics that is coming up next year and so we'll continue supporting these teams to ensure that they train well and so that they can perform well during the upcoming games, next season.

The advice I have for the athletes is that they should keep training because as they set their eyes on the Youth Olympics in Dakar, they should continue training and we'll continue supporting them, especially with all the necessary support that they require so that they can perform very well,” said Achoki.

Kenya participated in 17 out of 33 disciplines with a contingent of 87 athletes.