Chess introduced in schools as CKF eyes a strong pathway to the Olympiad 2026

Chess has officially been introduced into Kenya’s secondary school sports calendar, with the Chess Kenya Federation (CKF) confirming that the game will now be rolled out as a competitive discipline under the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), in a major boost to youth development.

CKF president Bernard Wanjala said the move marks a significant milestone for the sport, opening new competitive pathways for young players while strengthening Kenya’s long-term talent pipeline ahead of the 2026 World Chess Olympiad. “Chess is now in schools, and we are working with KSSSA to ensure it is fully integrated as a competitive discipline,” Wanjala said.

He revealed that the game will feature at the National Secondary School Championships and East African school competitions, giving learners early exposure to structured competition and feeding directly into the federation’s talent identification framework.

“The nationals are very important for us because they help us identify players who are ready for international exposure,” Wanjala added, noting that top performers from the school championships will earn opportunities to represent Kenya at major global events, including the 2026 World Chess Olympiad.

The school rollout, he explained, forms part of a broader strategy by the federation to deepen competition and ensure continuity by creating a seamless pathway from school tournaments to club chess, the national league and eventually international duty as CKF continues to build what he described as “a sustainable and competitive chess ecosystem.”

“Our goal is to build a sustainable and competitive chess ecosystem that can consistently produce players for the global stage,” he said. 

The federation president was speaking against the backdrop of the recently concluded 2025 Kenya National Chess Championship, which he described as a defining tournament that underlined the rapid growth of young talent in the country.

“The just-ended national championship showed us clearly that the future of Kenyan chess is bright,” Wanjala said, noting that the level of competition was high across all sections and that the emergence of youthful champions was proof that the federation’s development programmes are beginning to bear fruit.

The December championship saw 13-year-old FIDE Master Jadon Simiyu make history by becoming the youngest national champion after topping the Open section with eight points from 11 rounds, finishing ahead of Kuka Kyle (7.5 points) and Oluka Robert Mcligeyo (seven points).

In the ladies' section, Candidate Master Jully Mutisya was crowned champion after finishing level on eight points with Woman FIDE Master Sasha Mongeli, but edging her out on tie-breaks. Nicole Albright took third place on seven points, results Wanjala said reflected the growing competitiveness and depth of the women’s game.

Attention now turns to the domestic league, with Wanjala confirming that the National Chess League will begin at the end of February. “We are planning to kick off the National League at the end of February,” he said. 

“We are currently waiting for teams to complete their registration so that we can finalise the fixtures and ensure everything is in place.”

He added that the league will play a critical role in keeping players active and competitive throughout the year, while complementing the gains made through school chess and the national championship circuit.