Kenya is set to make its international Para-Rafting debut at the 2026 World Rafting Cup Series in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, from November 27–29, 2026. The event is the final leg of the 2026 World Rafting Cup Series calendar and will also double as the 2026 Pan-American Rafting Championships.
Six Para athletes will be part of the 22-member Kenyan delegation, which includes eight officials. The participation marks a maiden international competition for Kenya’s Para-Rafting athletes since the introduction of white-water rafting as a sport and the establishment of a national rafting federation.
Kenya will compete in all three disciplines—Sprint, Raft Cross and Slalom—with both men’s and women’s teams expected to take part.
“It will be good exposure and a pathway for most of our athletes, who are young, to gain experience in rafting and interact with athletes from different parts of the world who will be taking part in the final World Rafting Cup Series competitions of 2026,” said Abraham Kipleting, Head of Secretariat at the Kenya Rafting Federation.
In July 2026, Kenya successfully hosted a World Rafting Cup Series event, which also doubled as the African Rafting Championships. The competition attracted more than 12 countries from Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa.
Kenya emerged as the overall African champion and also won bronze medals in both the men’s and women’s categories in the World Cup Series competitions. The team is now optimistic about improving its performance in Brazil.
“We’ve made significant strides, and as we go to Brazil, we hope for the best. We want to win more medals for our athletes. Now that we are taking a big contingent comprising men’s, women’s and Para teams, we anticipate that each category will bring home more than one medal in the various disciplines in which we will participate,” added Kipleting.
The team has already begun preparations and training at Rapids Camp Sagana. The list of 22 delegates has been submitted to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports for sponsorship approval.
“We intend to have our team travel on November 21 so that we can acclimatize and conduct training before the main competition, as accreditation takes place from November 23. We need to be there early enough to prepare and compete well, given that Brazil will host the final event where the overall winner of the 2026 World Rafting Cup Series will be crowned,” noted Kipleting.
Meanwhile, Kenya Rafting Federation Secretary General William Kinuthia is expected to attend the Asian Rafting Championships in Arunachal Pradesh, India, from October 5–9, 2026.
