Kenya is set to compete in the 25th Summer Deaflympics Games in Tokyo, Japan, from November 15 to 26, 2025, with a national contingent of 122 athletes, coaches, and officials,according to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports.
The Kenya Sports Federation of the Deaf (KSFD) has finalized preparations for the team, which will depart for Tokyo in batches between November 12 and 14.
In a press statement, Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya reaffirmed the government’s support for Team Kenya, describing the Deaflympics as “embodying the spirit of inclusion, equality, and empowerment through sport.”
He emphasized that Kenya’s participation reflects the government’s “unwavering commitment to creating equal opportunities for Deaf athletes to excel and represent the nation with pride.”
Highlighting the government’s investment in inclusive sports, Mvurya noted that deliberate efforts have been made in high-performance systems, training camps, infrastructure, and athlete welfare.
“Kenya's Deaf athletes are not only champions on the track and court but also role models of resilience, determination, and national pride, inspiring others to pursue excellence beyond barriers,” he said.
Kenya’s journey in the Deaflympics is one of steady growth and achievement. Since debuting at the 18th edition in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1997, the country has participated in every subsequent edition.
The early years laid the foundation for future success, with Kenya winning its first medal, a silver, at the 19th Deaflympics in Rome in 2001.
Four years later, at the Melbourne 2005 edition, Kenyan athletes expanded their medal haul with three bronze medals, signaling increasing confidence and competitive strength.
Kenya’s emergence as a continental force became evident at the 21st Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2009, where the team earned four gold, two silver, and one bronze medal.
Momentum continued in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2013, with a tally of six gold, five silver, and six bronze medals. The 23rd Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey, in 2017, reaffirmed Kenya’s consistency, producing five gold, five silver, and six bronze medals, placing the nation among Africa’s top performers.
The defining moment came at the 24th Summer Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, held in 2022, where Kenya achieved a historic 24-medal haul, finishing 11th overall out of 73 participating nations.
“This performance marked Kenya’s best-ever result at the global stage, a powerful symbol of progress, unity, and the country’s growing leadership in inclusive and adaptive sports,” Mvurya said.
The Cabinet Secretary urged all Kenyans to rally behind the team, saying, “Let us stand in unity to celebrate their courage, determination, and patriotism. Each stride, throw, basket, and swim they take carries the hopes of millions of Kenyans who believe in the power of sport to transform lives and bridge differences.”
