Beyond American football in Kenya...

Kenya's growing embrace of American football has taken a diplomatic leap forward, following a high-level meeting between the Kenya Federation of American Football (KFAF) leadership and the U.S. Embassy Kenya team on Friday.

KFAF President George Alwanga and Dr. Ray Baxter, a key architect behind the Kenya–USA American Football Project, met with U.S. officials leading creative economy initiatives to explore avenues for future collaboration between the two nations through the sport.

Held in Nairobi, the meeting was marked by a warm reception and shared excitement about the potential of American football to empower youth, drive cultural exchange, and fuel sports tourism in Kenya.

"The reception was incredibly encouraging. We look forward to working together on future initiatives that will elevate American football as a tool for development, diplomacy, and creative industry growth," said Alwanga.

The Kenya–USA American Football Project is designed to bridge communities across the Atlantic by using sport as a platform for empowerment and mutual understanding. The initiative envisions grassroots development programs, international exchange opportunities, and investment in local infrastructure to support the sport’s expansion across Kenya.

Dr. Baxter emphasized the significance of sports diplomacy in creating lasting partnerships and offering young people alternatives through education, discipline, and opportunity.

American football in Kenya has seen a rise in interest, with KFAF leading training camps, outreach programs and competitive events that have drawn attention both locally and internationally.

With continued support from the U.S. Embassy and other stakeholders, the collaboration promises to deepen the social, cultural, and economic bonds between Kenya and the United States—one touchdown at a time.