From left Dr Ahmed Idriss, Michael Finlay, Eluid Wambua, Anne Gael Chapuis, Ambassador Arnaud Suquet during the launch of Disability Inclusion component BE programme at Isinya School for the Deaf on March 5, 2026 / HANDOUT
Learners with disabilities with the desire and passion to play basketball have gotten a boost following the launch of a training programme targeting schools dubbed Basketball Experience.
The Disability Inclusion component of the ongoing Basketball Experience (BE) programme was launched by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group in collaboration with NBA Africa on Thursday at the Isinya School for the Deaf.
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group, in collaboration with NBA Africa, has officially launched the Disability Inclusion component of the ongoing Basketball Experience (BE) programme in Kenya.
The initiative was unveiled at Isinya School for the Deaf on Thursday, marking a significant step toward promoting inclusive youth development through sport.
The launch brought together educators, development partners and community leaders, all united by a shared vision of using basketball as a tool to empower young people, nurture life skills and promote social inclusion for children of all abilities.
Through this expanded programme, children with hearing, visual and physical impairments will now be fully integrated into structured basketball training and life skills mentorship.
Speaking during the launch, NBA Africa Director in Kenya Michael Finlay described the initiative as unprecedented in scale.
“As the NBA Africa, we have run programmes over the past couple of decades for children with disabilities, but we've never launched a programme of this size and this scale for children with disabilities. So it's really an honour and a pleasure to be a part of launching what is really our largest programme for children with disabilities,” Finlay said.
He explained that the initial phase will focus on building a strong foundation by equipping coaches and teachers with the necessary skills to deliver inclusive training.
“There will be a focus on upskilling teachers to assist with coaching, and then it will be recruitment of the young people, who then the coaches and the facilitators for life skills will take that cohort of young people forward,” he stated.
Funded by AFD and implemented by the Kenya Red Cross, the Disability Inclusion component expands the Basketball Experience programme’s reach by ensuring that no child is left behind. The initiative seeks to build confidence, teamwork, discipline and leadership skills among differently abled learners, both on and off the court.
The programme builds on momentum created earlier this year when a Jr. NBA clinic held in Nairobi in April 2025 engaged more than 200 participants, including young people with hearing impairments. That clinic demonstrated the potential of adaptive basketball training and laid the groundwork for broader inclusion.
During Thursday’s launch, attendees witnessed adapted basketball demonstrations and discussions illustrating how sport can be tailored to create safe, engaging and empowering environments for children with disabilities.
The demonstrations showcased modified drills and communication techniques designed to ensure every participant can actively engage and thrive.
Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Dr Ahmed Idriss expressed confidence that the programme would not only nurture sporting talent but also serve as a catalyst for social transformation.
“Kenya Red Cross interest in sports is threefold. One is to grow talent among young people and expand the opportunities for livelihoods for young people. The second interest for us is sports is an agent of social change. We can use it for addressing other social problems, including drug addiction, violence among young people,” he explained.
Basketball Experience Coach Brian Rague welcomed the decision to dedicate more resources to the deaf component of the sport, noting that it addresses a long-standing gap.
“Not too many resources are put into the deaf component of the sport, so with this introduction into that particular group of people, we hope to actually have them participate more, include them more, so that they can feel like a part of the wider community and not feel marginalized,” Rague said.
French Development Agency’s Anne Gael Chapuis participating in a basketball match during the launch of Disability Inclusion component BE programme at Isinya School for the Deaf / HANDOUT
Students also voiced their hopes for the programme’s success. James Kande, a learner at Isinya School for the Deaf, urged hearing coaches and community members to embrace sign language training to enhance communication and improve coaching effectiveness.
“Please, let us make an effort of learning sign language all the hearing people, so that all the deaf people can benefit and understand. The moment we have skilled basketball coaches, and we have skilled deaf basketball players, we can be able to fly out and represent our country as we are supposed to,” he appealed.
The Disability Inclusion component will be rolled out across Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, and Kiambu counties, benefiting 32 specialised schools for children with disabilities. Coaches and educators will receive practical tools and structured guidance to deliver inclusive sessions that foster holistic youth development and strengthen community ties.
This expansion builds on the broader Basketball Experience programme launched in July 2024 across 48 schools in Kenya. With the new inclusion drive, the total number of beneficiary schools will rise to 128, with an additional 48 schools expected to be co-opted under the classic component in 2026.
By combining sport, mentorship and inclusion, the initiative signals a growing commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, has an equal opportunity to dream, compete and succeed.
Learner showcasing his dribbling skills during the launch of Disability Inclusion component BE programme at Isinya School for the Deaf / HANDOUT