Kenya Wheelchair Basketball Federation ( KWBF) has sent a team of 12 men and women apiece to Bengo province in Luanda, Angola, for the 3×3 and 5×5, 2026 IWBF Africa Senior Men and Women wheelchair basketball Championships.
Speaking on Sunday, 22nd March 2026 upon the team’s arrival at the José Armando Sayovo Paralympic Sports Complex pavilion, KWBF president Alfred Simiyu in high spirits said that his charges will qualify for the 2026 Glasgow Common wealth games and the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Ottawa, Canada.
“We just had a team that finished with a silver from the just concluded Africa Women’s U-25 Championships in DRC, five of those players are also here to beef up the veterans and for men, we have tried to get a blend of youngsters and experienced stars,” quipped Simiyu.
Kenya is part of a prestigious 20 national teams continental showdown event that serves as the official African Championship for senior national teams, forming a key part of the qualification pathway to the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Ottawa, Canada, for the 5×5 men and women’s wheelchair basketball championships that begin in March 27- April 4 at the Jose Armando Savoyo.
The winners in this category qualify directly for Ottawa while the second placed countries will advance to the 2026 Repechage Tournament, still another opportunity to qualify for the Grande global event.
The 3× 3 men and women’s championship begins on 24th March 2026, with all eyes focused on who will win and get a direct ticket to the 2026 Glasgow Common wealth games where Kenya’s men will battle it out with 11 other countries while the women will fight against seven other countries for top honors.
Kenya women’s side has scooped five stars from the Kinshasa U-25 national side, led by Christine Mutheu, Diana Wabwire, Michelle Yegon, Mary Atieno and Ashley Autai, all have already joined Caroline Wanjira, Phyllis Warioko, Stella Tiyoy, Beth Wanja, Eunice Otieno and Merceline Anjejo to complete the list of 12 selected to battle for Kenya in the 5×5 tournament, a team that will be coached by Sarah Libese, assisted by Caroline Adhiambo.
Only four women have been selected to compete in the 3×3, a team that will have veterans Caroline Wanjira, Phyllis Warioko and Stella Tiyoy joined by U-25 prodigy Michelle Yegon. They will be coached by Caroline Adhiambo and Charles Otieno.
Charles Ogolla will coach the four gentlemen selected for the 3×3 games, a side that has captain Ian Kanji to lead Youngster Milton Ilahuya alongside veteran Itaken Timoi and Robert Kimotho.
The four are also part of the 12 who will be up for the 5×5 games, joining a team that already has Evans Otieno , Haman Odido, James Karanja, kelvin Ngugi, Supeiyo Koila, Elvis Jowi, Simon Ngugi and Dennis Ndung’u, a side coached by Nicholas Ngumbi, assisted by Maurice Ouma.
Ian Kanji is the men’s captain for the 5×5 team while Itaken Timoi will captain the 3×3, as Beth Wanja and Caroline Wanjira will share the same duties for the women’s side respectively.
