Uganda surged ahead of the pack to claim victory in the opening downriver contest of Africa’s first-ever water rafting championship, currently underway in Murang’a.

The event drew competitors from eleven nations and is set to put Kenya firmly on the continental water sports map.

The Ugandan athletes took 29 minutes and 23 seconds to complete the seven-kilometre stretch, while the Kenyan team came in second with a time of 29 minutes and 42 seconds. Burundi secured third place after finishing the race in 31 minutes and 16 seconds.

William Kinuthia, one of the main facilitators of the event, said the competition features three categories: downriver, RX and slalom. Each category includes men’s, women’s, and mixed-gender teams competing for the top prize.

Kinuthia noted that rafting offers a golden opportunity for young people in the country to train and become professional rafting guides.

“All over the world, international guides are being sought, and this is an opportunity they cannot afford to miss,” he said.

He added that while many young people have completed university studies but remain jobless, rafting could offer an alternative career path.

“You don’t require A grades in academics, only proper training to become a pro in rafting and start earning an income by working in any country where rafting is practised,” he added.

Sports tourism

Sports PS Elijah Mwangi said the government is committed to identifying and nurturing young talent to professional levels.

He noted that Kenya has hosted several international competitions, which have helped promote sports tourism and generate revenue for the government.

“This is a relatively new sporting activity in the country, but it has enormous potential. With the championship being held here, there is an advantage as specialised equipment has been brought in, which will be used for training more people,” said the PS.

Further, he explained that those who will be trained could become an asset to the country, especially in rescue missions during disasters.

“This is a big river, and the training these people undergo is very vigorous. They can manage to carry out any rescue mission,” he remarked.

Belabbas El Mamoun, chair of the African Rafting Council, praised Murang’a for having one of the best rafting courses on the continent and encouraged residents to take advantage of it for training.

He also said the council plans to popularise the sport by organising more championships to position African countries on the global rafting map.