By KPC Sports Reporter
Nairobi is gearing up for a landmark martial arts spectacle as the Kenya Karate Federation prepares to host the UFAK Region East Karate Championship 2026 next week.
The Championship will run from May 28 to 31 at the Nyayo National Stadium Indoor Arena.
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Organized under the Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK), the championship will feature elite athletes, coaches, referees, and officials from 14 East African nations.
For four days, cadet, junior, and senior competitors will battle in individual and team categories, promising explosive action and razor-sharp technique.
“We finished 2nd in this event last year and we are pumped up sufficiently to claim top honors this year,” said team captain Francis Wamukui.
“Fighting at home is also a motivator in this championship and we are not letting anyone beat us in our backyard.”
Kenya will field a 50-member squad, selected after an intensive two-month residential camp under accredited World Karate Federation coaches.
The training emphasized tactical sharpness, conditioning, discipline, and technical precision.
The team enters with confidence after finishing second overall at last year’s Region East Championship in Ethiopia, where Kenya won 20 medals — 10 gold, nine silver, and one bronze.
Officials believe home advantage and rigorous preparation could propel Kenya to the top.
Among the standout athletes is Advocate Mercy Wamboi, who balances her legal career with karate.
“The perception out there is that Karate is for men. That is just the perception, the reality is that there are more ladies in camp than the men. And we are not just there to make up the numbers, we are thriving,” she said.
“The championships will reveal this truth to most people so come out and cheer Team Kenya.”
The championship will also attract influential figures, including the President of UFAK, the Vice President of the World Karate Federation, and senior refereeing and technical officials — underscoring Kenya’s growing stature as a host of major international sporting events.
Beyond competition, UFAK will conduct specialized coaches’ and referees’ courses, seminars, and examinations to strengthen officiating standards and build technical capacity across Africa.
The Nairobi event is seen as a crucial stepping stone for Kenya ahead of the African Karate Championship in Algeria (September) and the Commonwealth Karate Games in Scotland (October).
“The Kenya Karate Federation expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government of Kenya for its invaluable support towards the hosting of this championship and for the continued investment in the development and promotion of sports in the country,” Kenya Karate Federation official Eng. Richard Binga said.
He also thanked sponsors, partners, security agencies, medical personnel, volunteers, and the wider karate fraternity for their role in organizing the tournament.
