NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 6 – Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group and NBA Africa have launched a disability inclusion component of the Basketball Experience programme aimed at empowering students with disabilities through sport.
The initiative was unveiled at the Isinya School for the Deaf and seeks to integrate children with hearing, visual and physical impairments into structured basketball and life-skills training.
Funded by AFD and implemented by the Kenya Red Cross, the programme is designed to ensure children of all abilities develop confidence, teamwork, discipline and leadership skills both on and off the court.
The launch event featured adapted basketball demonstrations highlighting how sport can be tailored to create safe and inclusive learning environments for children with disabilities.
The programme will be rolled out across Nairobi, Kajiado County, Machakos County and Kiambu County, benefiting 32 specialised schools for learners with disabilities.
It will also equip coaches and educators with tools to deliver inclusive training sessions aimed at supporting youth development and community engagement.
The disability inclusion component builds on the broader Basketball Experience programme launched in July 2024 across 48 schools in Kenya. With the expansion, the number of beneficiary schools will rise to 128 after an additional 48 institutions are incorporated in 2026.
Speaking during the launch, AFD Director for Kenya Anne‑Gaël Chapuis said the programme reflects a shared commitment to making sport accessible to all young people.
“The launch of the Disability Inclusion component of the Basketball Experience programme reflects our shared commitment to making sport accessible to all. Together with the NBA and our Kenyan partners, AFD is proud to support an initiative that uses sport not only to develop talent but also to promote inclusion, confidence and opportunity for young people across Kenya,” she said.
The event was attended by State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs Kahindi, French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet, NBA Kenya Country Operations Lead Michael Finley and Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Ahmed Idris among other officials.
