A basketball programme backed by NBA Africa and the Agence Française de Développement has reached 103,340 children in 128 schools across four Kenyan counties, organisers announced at the 2026 Basketball Experience Finals in Kasarani, Nairobi. The Basketball Experience (BE) programme uses sport to teach children aged 8 to 18 life skills including teamwork, discipline, resilience and leadership.
Funded by AFD and implemented by Expertise France alongside the Kenya Red Cross, the programme operates in Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu and Kajiado counties. Coaches are trained through the Jr. NBA curriculum and locally developed inclusive manuals, with a dedicated strand that brings children with hearing, visual and physical impairments into organised basketball sessions through adapted coaching methods.
The Kasarani finals followed mini-tournaments held in July and brought together young players, educators and community stakeholders. French Ambassador to Kenya H.E. Wadid Benaabou, AFD Director for Kenya Anne-Gaël Chapuis and NBA Africa Chief Executive Officer Claire Akamanzi attended the event, alongside Joe Mbalu, Deputy Secretary General, Christine Kirui of the Kenya Deaf Basketball Association, Jane Gichure, County Director for Gender and Inclusivity, and Martin Cheruyiot, County Director of Education in Kajiado County.
