Wushu Olympics debut inspires Kenyans

A wushu show at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal on Tuesday. WANG DONGZHEN/XINHUA

On an open patch of ground beside a social hall in Kiambu County, north of Nairobi, about dozens of children punch, kick and hold their stances as their coach calls out instructions.

"As we train, there ischangquan(long fist), there isdaoshu(broadsword), andgunshu(staff)," said Ngaruiya Njonge, president of the Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation. "Also tai chi. There are a lot, actually."

Wushu, a Chinese martial art gradually gaining popularity in Kenya, is spreading from a small circle of practitioners to public schools and clubs across the country.

The sport marked a milestone at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where it made its debut as an official medal sport.

Held from Sunday to Tuesday, the competition brought together 47 athletes from 46 countries.

In a country where, as Njonge put it, "many people know about only football", the growing interest in wushu is creating new opportunities for young people to explore a different sporting discipline.

For some, the attraction begins with martial arts films featuring renowned Chinese action movie stars such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Donnie Yen.

"We are impressed by their movies. Most of the kids admire them and want to learn kung fu," said Kennedy Murimi, a coach at Dagoretti Kungfu Club affiliated with the Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation.

Wushu's development in Kenya largely began with a small group of students introduced to kung fu by a Chinese master known as Muhir, who later left the country for Dubai, Murimi said.

Wushu learners practice at a training base of the Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation, in Kiambu, Kenya, on October 17, 2026. WU XIAOHUI/CHINA DAILY

Njonge, who had practiced martial arts since childhood, was among about 15 Kenyans who trained under him, according to Murimi.

In January 2000, Njonge established a club in Kiambu County, which later grew into the Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation.

In 2024, Njonge spent six months training at the Shaolin Temple in Henan province, earning a certificate that helped him secure opportunities to teach in public schools.

"Going to Shaolin for me opens my door," he said.

The federation now has 12 regional branches, works with 26 public schools and reaches about 6,000 students, Njonge said. One of its branches, led by Murimi, teaches about 300 students across several schools and at his club in Nairobi, where the youngest learners are just four years old.

For Murimi, his wushu journey began under a Chinese master surnamed Huo about 15 years ago. He later trained at the Shaolin Temple before continuing his studies at Henan University of Technology.

Murimi plans to return to China for a year to continue his training, with the intention of sharing the knowledge and skills he acquires with his students.

Kennedy Murimi, a coach of the Dagoretti Kungfu Club, trains with wushu learners, in Nairobi, on October 30, 2026. PEI TUO/FOR CHINA DAILY

International stage

Kenyan practitioners have also begun gaining experience on the international stage.

In February, young athletes attended a training camp in Egypt supported by the International Wushu Federation before going on to compete at the World Junior Wushu Championships in March.

Among the young athletes hoping to build a future in the sport is 17-year-old Winfred Mukami.

"My goal for wushu is to see myself rise higher, to achieve something big," she said. "I want to become a superstar in wushu."

Despite its growing appeal among young Kenyans, wushu faces challenges in sustaining its expansion. As more children enroll, the demand for basic training equipment has increased, leaving shortages of uniforms, training weapons, and mats, Njonge said.

The shortage of qualified coaches is another obstacle. Some clubs have limited access to Chinese instructors, while local coaches sometimes rely on online videos, including You-Tube, to learn new routines.

But Njonge remains optimistic about its prospects. He is already looking ahead to the next international competition, with plans to prepare athletes for the World Wushu Championships that will be held in the Philippines next year.

Nelly Ishimwe, 13, one of Murimi's students, was inspired by wushu's debut. She has her sights set on the international stage and hopes to represent Kenya at the Olympic Games one day.

Shan Tianqing and Pei Tuoin Nairobi contributed to the story.

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