Kenya Confirms Full Readiness to Host the World Under-21 Taekwondo Championships as Global Spotlight Turns to Nairobi

Nairobi, November 13, 2025: Kenya has confirmed it is fully prepared to host the World Under-21 Taekwondo Championships, with more than 80 countries already confirming participation in the global event to be staged in Nairobi later this year. The announcement came today as the Kenya Taekwondo Federation (KTF) through the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports), unveiled Team Kenya, comprising eight boys and eight girls, and reaffirmed the championship’s carbon-neutral theme - “Taekwondo Values For Climate Action.”

Speaking at the press briefing in Nairobi, the Kenya Taekwondo Federation (KTF) President, Major (Rtd) Suleiman Sumba, highlighted Kenya’s organisational, technical, and infrastructural readiness following a successful inspection and endorsement by World Taekwondo officials. These officials, who visited Kenya over the past weekend, described the country’s facilities as world-class and well-aligned with global standards.

Reinforcing the championship’s theme ‘Taekwondo Values For Climate Action’, the KTF President further noted that Kenya is not only ready to host the world but also to showcase how sport can be a force for sustainability, which aligns with Kenya’s greening agenda which projects to plant 15 billion trees by 2032. The federation last month launched an ambitious tree-planting initiative dubbed #KenyaYetuMsituWetu which aims to plant 11,000 trees.

“Kenya is ready. Our athletes, venues, and support systems have all met international benchmarks. Hosting the world under the theme Taekwondo Values For Climate Action demonstrates that sport can be a catalyst for both human excellence and environmental consciousness,” noted Major Sumba. He further revealed that Team Kenya’s 16-member squad is already in a high-performance residential training camp, gearing up for the African Series Championships in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where they will compete from 15th November as part of their final preparations ahead of the World Championships.

“Our team is in top shape and ready to make Kenya proud in the Abidjan event which will sharpen their competitive edge as they prepare to defend home ground,” he added.

The championships will bring together over 1,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from about 140 countries including South Korea, Russia, Israel, Brazil, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, cementing Kenya’s reputation as one of Africa’s most capable hosts of large-scale global sporting events.

Representing the Department of Sport in the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Principal Sports Officer Jackson Munywoki hailed KTF’s leadership and praised the integration of sustainability into the competition’s design and reiterated the government’s commitment to fully supporting the championship.

“This championship exemplifies Kenya’s growing stature in global sport management; It underscores the government’s commitment to positioning sport as a vehicle for youth development, economic growth, and environmental stewardship,” Munywoki said.

KTF confirmed that logistical preparations are in their final stages, from accreditation and athlete transport to competition venue readiness and technical coordination.

“Our collaboration with World Taekwondo and local partners has ensured that every aspect meets international standards. We are ready to welcome the world and deliver a championship that reflects Kenya’s excellence in technical organization, security, and hospitality,” Major Sumba assured

Through the official sustainability partner - TBL (Tenants Become Landlords) Go Green Initiative - KTF aims to make the championship fully carbon-neutral, integrating tree planting, green energy use, and eco-conscious community engagement under the sustainability theme.

Director of the TBL Go Green Initiative Jeff Kefa emphasized that sustainability is not a side activity but the core value driving the championship.

“This event shows that sport can lead the climate action agenda. Every match and every medal will leave a positive imprint on the planet.” Kefa said.

Meanwhile, media registration is now open through the official accreditation portal, inviting both local and international journalists to cover this landmark sporting event.