Kenya’s Baseball5 national team has set its sights on a podium finish at the 2027 WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup following an impressive campaign at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
Kenya and Uganda have already secured qualification for the global competition, although the host country and tournament dates are yet to be announced.
Baseball Federation of Kenya (BFK) President Titus Mutwiri said the team’s ambition was to win a medal after narrowly missing out on the podium in Dakar, where Kenya finished fourth.
"We missed the podium by a whisker," Mutwiri said.
"We lost in the semifinals against eventual champions Cuba by just one set and four runs. The team gave everything and gained valuable experience against the world's best. At next year's World Cup, we are aiming for a podium finish—nothing less," he added.
Kenya finished fourth after losing 2-1 to world number five Mexico in the third-place playoff.
The Kenyan side had enjoyed an impressive group-stage campaign, recording victories over France, Mexico and Syria before falling 2-0 to world number one Cuba in the semifinals. Cuba went on to win the gold medal.
Currently ranked 10th globally in Baseball5, Kenya hopes its strong showing in Dakar will translate into a significant improvement in the world rankings, with Mutwiri targeting a place among the top six or seven nations.
He also expressed confidence that the current squad has the potential to dominate future international competitions.
To sustain the team's progress, the federation plans to strengthen grassroots development by expanding Baseball5 participation in schools across the country.
Starting in 2027, the sport will be introduced into primary and secondary school sports competitions nationwide. In addition, Grade 11 learners pursuing the Creative Arts and Sports pathway under the national curriculum will study Baseball5 as part of their regular physical education and sports lessons, with formal assessments included.
Mutwiri believes integrating the sport into the education system will create a stronger talent pipeline, expose young players to structured competition early and raise Kenya's overall playing standards.
The federation hopes the initiative will help build a sustainable foundation for international success and establish Kenya as a major force in global Baseball5.
