NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has officially introduced chess as a competitive sport in secondary schools, a major milestone the Chess Kenya Federation (CKF) says will strengthen grassroots development and elevate the country’s international profile.
The move sees chess formally incorporated under the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), allowing students to compete in structured school, national and regional tournaments for the first time.
CKF President Bernard Wanjala confirmed the development, saying the federation is working closely with KSSSA to ensure chess is fully integrated into the schools’ sports calendar.
“Chess is now in schools, and we are working with KSSSA to ensure it is fully integrated as a competitive discipline,” Wanjala said.
Under the new framework, chess will feature in the National Secondary School Championships and East African school competitions, exposing students to organized tournaments at an early stage.
Wanjala noted that the national championships will play a key role in identifying players with the potential to represent Kenya internationally.
“The nationals are very important for us because they help us identify players who are ready for international exposure,” he said.
According to the federation, the school rollout is part of a long-term strategy aimed at creating a clear development pathway — from school competitions to club chess, the national league and, ultimately, international tournaments.
The decision follows the recently concluded 2025 Kenya National Chess Championship, which CKF says highlighted the growing depth of young talent across the country.
“The just-ended national championship showed us clearly that the future of Kenyan chess is bright,” Wanjala said, citing increased competition and the emergence of younger players as signs that sustained development efforts are paying off.
With chess now embedded in schools, the federation’s focus is shifting to maintaining strong domestic competition.
Wanjala revealed that preparations are underway for the National Chess League, which is expected to kick off at the end of February.
“We are currently waiting for teams to complete their registration so that we can finalise the fixtures and ensure everything is in place,” he said.
