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.