Kenya steps up flag football drive ahead of LA 2028

Flag football’s rapid rise in Kenya will take centre stage on Sunday when the Kenya American Football Federation (KFAF) hosts the Floodlight Flag Football Tournament at M-Pesa Foundation Academy.

The tournament, which runs from 2pm to 10pm, will feature 16 teams battling on artificial turf under floodlights in what KFAF says will offer players and fans a new experience.

Beyond the evening action, however, the tournament forms part of a broader push to establish a sustainable pathway for flag football in Kenya as the sport prepares for its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Flag football, a fast-paced, non-contact five-a-side version of American football, has steadily expanded through schools, universities and senior competitions.

KFAF president George Alwanga says the federation is building a pathway that starts at grassroots level and can ultimately lead Kenyan athletes to the Olympic stage.

“It’s motivational and inspiring and it helps us create a pathway to help those upcoming athletes to understand that competition doesn’t just end in Kenya nor does it end in continental activities or events in Africa. We are going all the way to the Olympics,” Alwanga told Citizen Digital in an earlier interview.

More than 100 schools expressed interest in flag football following a KFAF showcase at Thika High School in August, with the federation targeting a structured inter-school competition framework from 2027.

The sport has also made an impression on the international stage. Kenya’s women’s team won bronze at the 2026 NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship in Nairobi, securing the country’s first medal in flag football, while the men finished fourth.

The Olympic ambition has also brought KFAF and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya together as the federation works to strengthen the development of athletes, coaches and officials.

Away from the field, KFAF is also seeking to strengthen the commercial side of the sport.

The federation has unveiled a three-year partnership with Listen Media as its Commercial Rights and Delivery Partner, covering competitions including the National Series, Floodlights Festival, Nairobi Invitational Bowl, Beach Flag Games, Tackle Showcase and Road to LA 2028.

Listen Media chief executive officer Teddy Ndemo said the partnership is aimed at building more than individual events.

“This is more than a partnership. It’s a long-term mission to unlock new commercial opportunities, elevate experiences, grow audiences, and build a stronger ecosystem around the sport,” Ndemo said.

With the floodlights set to come on at M-Pesa Foundation Academy, Sunday’s tournament will provide another platform for players to compete, emerging talent to showcase their skills and fans to experience a sport that is steadily establishing itself in Kenya’s sporting landscape.