The Basketball Experience (BE) programme has reached 103,340 children in Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu and Kajiado counties since its launch. The milestone was marked at the third Basketball Experience Finals at the Kenya Academy Sports Court in Kasarani, Nairobi, where young players, educators, development partners and community stakeholders gathered.
Funded by AFD and delivered by Expertise France in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross and NBA Africa, the programme uses the Jr. NBA curriculum to train coaches in basketball techniques. Locally developed inclusive manuals help children aged 8 to 18 build life skills such as teamwork, discipline, resilience and leadership.
Disability inclusion is built into the initiative, integrating children with hearing, visual and physical impairments into structured basketball and life-skills activities through adapted coaching and accessible formats. The 2026 finals followed a series of mini-tournaments held in July.
The event drew French Ambassador to Kenya Wadid Benaabou, AFD Director for Kenya Anne-Gaël Chapuis, NBA Africa Chief Executive Officer Claire Akamanzi, Kenya Red Cross Deputy Secretary General Joe Mbalu, Kenya Deaf Basketball Association President Christine Kirui, Kajiado County Director of Gender and Inclusivity Jane Gichure, and County Director of Education Martin Cheruyiot.
