Kenya has made a mark by hosting the first major international rafting championship on African soil, with the 2026 African Rafting Championships and World Rafting Cup stage getting underway on Friday at the Sagana Rapids Camp along the Tana River.
The landmark event, scheduled for this weekend, has attracted more than 200 athletes from 15 countries, with 62 teams competing across the men’s, women’s, mixed and para-rafting categories in a major milestone for the growth of rafting on the continent. Kenya entered the championships with 56 athletes.
“The Kenyan rapids will see 62 teams from 15 different nations ready to battle for continental glory and crucial points; more than 200 athletes racing in 26 Men crews, 18 Mixed crews, 16 Women crews and 2 Para-Rafting crews,” the World Rafting Federation said in a statement.
Kenyan crews made a strong start on Friday during the opening Sprint discipline of the African Rafting Championships, with Team KEN 2 claiming gold in both the men’s and women’s categories.
Team KEN 1 also delivered a strong performance in the Mixed Sprint event, taking the top spot after posting a winning time of 1:42.273. Team KEN 2 finished second, while Morocco’s MAR 1 completed the podium.
The opening day also saw strong performances from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sudan and South Sudan, highlighting the growing competitiveness of rafting across Africa.
In the World Rafting Cup standings, Italy emerged as the dominant force, with ITA 1 winning the men’s Sprint title after clocking 1:28.024. The Italian women’s team also claimed top honours after recording a winning time of 1:39.027, while Italy completed a successful day by taking the Para-Rafting title in 1:33.686.
The championships were officially opened on Thursday at Sagana Rapids Camp in a ceremony that brought together athletes from across the globe, with teams parading under their national flags along the riverbanks that will host the competition.
They represent a major milestone for Kenya’s growing profile as a host of international sporting events, with the Tana River providing the stage for one of the biggest rafting competitions ever held in Africa.
Action now shifts to the more technical RX and Slalom disciplines, where crews will continue chasing African titles and crucial World Rafting Cup points.
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