The Kenya Federation of American Football (KFAF) has been admitted to the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K), a milestone for the growth and recognition of the sport in the country.

The federation was voted in on Tuesday, October 6, after a presentation by its President, George Alwanga, and Secretary-General, Shisoka Akaka.

KFAF announced the news on its social media pages, calling it an incredible achievement at the end of a big year.

Alwanga said membership gives the federation greater recognition within Kenya’s sporting ecosystem and opens new opportunities for athletes, coaches and officials.

He linked the development to the Olympics, where flag football makes its debut in 2028.

“With flag football heading to the Olympics in 2028, this is also an important step as we build the structures and pathways needed to ensure Kenya is ready for that historic opportunity,” he said.

Why admission was not automatic

According to KFAF, a federation seeking NOC-K membership must demonstrate proper governance structures and international affiliation, alongside active youth and development programmes.

It must also have a national team with verifiable international results, including medals, trophies and continental appearances, and show a genuine local presence that proves the sport is well rooted across the country.

Registration with the Ministry of Sports is mandatory.

The process then involves a formal application, vetting, a presentation to the NOC-K General Assembly and, finally, a majority vote. KFAF says it met the requirements “and more.”

The admission follows years of work to establish the sport in Kenya.

KFAF adopted flag football as its primary discipline in 2019, using the non-contact version to overcome the barriers of introducing full-contact tackle football.

Its speed and inclusivity across genders made it more accessible.

That December, Kenya played Uganda in a flag football demonstration at the seventh Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) National Games at Moi University.

Since then, the federation has grown the sport through grassroots programmes, competitions and partnerships.

Flag football has been introduced in schools through pilot programmes led by KFAF and the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS), in partnership with the NFL. On September 20, KFAF staged a tournament under floodlights on artificial turf at M-Pesa Foundation Academy in Thika.

Olympic

The prospect of Olympic status has driven the sport’s development. In 2022, the NFL and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) submitted a joint bid for flag football’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

The bid succeeded, giving KFAF added reason to build the structures needed to compete internationally.

KFAF now joins other emerging federations in the NOC-K fold, including skiing and lacrosse.