Chavakali High School to pioneer American football in Western Kenya

By Brian Mwenje

Chavakali High School becomes the first high school in the Western region to introduce American football.

This groundbreaking development aims to diversify the sports landscape in the region, which is traditionally known for its prowess in rugby and soccer.

George Alwanga, the President of the Kenya Federation of American Football and an alumnus of Chavakali High School, spoke with Citizen Digital about the initiative.

"American football has been growing in Kenya, and the essence of us going to Chavakali School to plant a seed for high school games, considering Western is a powerhouse of sports, is to allow young athletes to learn this new, dynamic sport that is very competitive and internationally recognized," Alwanga said.

The federation aims to introduce American football in ten boys' and ten girls' schools across the Western region.

These schools will eventually compete in a regional tournament. Despite being on a tight schedule, the goal is to hold this tournament before mid-August.

"The winning team from Western will form a junior team with the potential to represent Kenya in next year's continental games."

Additionally, according to Alwanga, efforts are currently underway to bid for hosting these games in Kenya.

Brian Walumbe, the rugby coach at Chavakali High School, expressed his gratitude towards the Kenya Federation of American Football for choosing their school as a starting point.

He noted that starting with the rugby boys was a strategic decision due to the similarities in structure and physicality between the two sports.

"I believe this launch will benefit our boys as they target going pro," he stated.

American football has already found its footing in several schools in Nairobi, and its introduction in Western Kenya marks a key step toward expanding the sport's reach and popularity in the country.

Maseno University and Kibabii University are some of the institutions currently taking American football.