Kenya has qualified both its men’s and women’s teams for the 3×3 basketball competition at the Commonwealth Games, scheduled for July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow, Scotland, becoming the first African nation to field teams in both categories.
The historic double qualification is the culmination of a sustained run of strong continental performances across the last Olympic cycle, underpinned by a deliberate youth-focused development strategy.
The women’s team laid the foundation in 2023, when they stunned Egypt 21–20 to win the FIBA Africa 3×3 Cup, securing Kenya’s first major continental title in the format. They followed that breakthrough with back-to-back bronze medals in 2024 and 2025, cementing their status among Africa’s elite.
Over the same period, the men’s side showed steady progress, reaching the quarterfinals at the 2023 Africa Cup before later climbing onto the podium with a continental bronze medal, keeping Kenya among Africa’s most consistent 3×3 performers.
Kenya’s momentum was further reinforced through the Youth Nations League, where both the under-21 men’s and women’s teams regularly finished inside the top three.
Those results boosted the country’s ranking points and, at one stage, lifted Kenya to second place in Africa. Basketball Federation of Kenya (KBF) secretary general, Angela Luchivya, said the dual qualification was clear evidence that the federation’s long-term investment in youth development was paying dividends. “Our dedication to the Youth Nations League has ensured we remain among the top teams in Africa,” Luchivya said. “Being consistently in the top three has helped us improve our standings and secure these opportunities.”
She noted that both the men’s and women’s under-21 teams delivered strong results throughout the cycle, while the senior women’s Africa Cup triumph validated the federation’s decision to lean into the physical demands of the 3×3 format.
“With 3×3, speed, agility and quick thinking are key,” she said. “We have intentionally gone younger because those physical attributes make a big difference in this format.”
Kenya’s consistency now sets it apart from its continental peers at the Commonwealth Games, with Nigeria representing Africa in the men’s competition and Uganda in the women’s field, leaving Kenya as the only African nation with a double ticket. The 3×3 format has grown rapidly since making its Commonwealth Games debut in 2022, expanding to 12 teams per gender.
The expansion has forced federations to build deeper, more specialised development pipelines. Luchivya said Kenya has responded by establishing a structured pathway from under-16 through under-21 and under-23 to the senior teams, with most prospects identified at the secondary school level before entering national trials.
“We tap into the secondary school games to identify players, then hold national trials so we can rotate squads and build depth,” she said. “The clear pathway from U16 to senior level has made transitions seamless.”
While attempts to establish a dedicated 3×3 league have faced challenges, sponsor-backed competitions such as the Red Bull and Betika circuits have kept players active, complemented by international exposure through elite youth camps in Senegal and Tunisia.
Kenya’s men have also gained valuable experience on the global stage through the Challenger Series and Lite Quest events, regularly facing stronger European opposition as part of preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.
The federation now plans to assemble extended residential camps ahead of the Commonwealth Games, with trials set to identify final squads before training begins.
“We want the camps to start as early as May because the competition is in July,” Luchivya said. “The players need time together to build chemistry and polish their systems,” she added, noting that school and work commitments have occasionally forced last-minute squad changes.
Looking ahead, Luchivya expects traditional powerhouses such as Australia, the United States, Canada and Serbia to pose the toughest challenge but insists that Kenya will head to Glasgow with podium ambitions. “A medal is ambitious, but with the right support and enough exposure through competitions like the Nations League, it is realistic,” she said.
by CHARLENE MALWA
