Grassroots Push in Nanyuki Signals Kenya’s Broader Badminton Ambitions

More than 20 counties are set to send junior players to Laikipia this weekend for a two-day badminton tournament that organizers say is designed to strengthen Kenya’s talent pipeline as the country sharpens its international ambitions.

The Boom & Thrive Badminton CSR Tournament 2026 will run from Feb. 28 to March 1 in Nanyuki, drawing what organizers describe as one of the most diverse youth fields in the Mt. Kenya region this year. The event blends competition with mentorship and corporate sponsorship, underscoring the private sector’s expanding role in grassroots sport development.

“Nurturing talent and shaping national champions begins at the grassroots,” Edward Muchiri Mburu, director of Woodchem Traders Limited, Mazingira Recyclers Limited and Boom & Thrive Badminton, said in an interview. “This tournament is about giving young people exposure, confidence and the right mentorship to thrive both on and off the court.”

The event has secured backing from companies including Business Network International, Heritage Insurance, Kiwi Scourers Ltd, Woodchem Traders Limited, Mazingira Recyclers Limited, Shuttle Auto Garage, ICEA Lion Insurance, Elite Sports, Goko Gichuhu & Co Advocates, Willcure Health Care and CGA Consult, alongside local businesses in Laikipia County. Organizers said the sponsorships reflect a growing recognition that structured youth sport can contribute to regional economic and social development.

Beyond match play, the tournament will feature networking sessions with community leaders and business executives, positioning the event as a platform for leadership development and character building. Organizers say they also aim to identify academic and athletic promise, promote healthy lifestyles and encourage positive social engagement.

The competition comes as Kenya seeks to bolster its standing in international badminton. This month, national squads competed at the All Africa Senior Championships in Gaborone, Botswana, and the BWF World Para-Badminton Championships in Manama, Bahrain, as part of qualification efforts for major global tournaments.

With the country targeting slots at the 2028 Summer Olympics and the 2028 Summer Paralympics in Los Angeles, grassroots competitions such as Boom & Thrive are increasingly viewed by stakeholders as critical to building a sustainable pipeline of elite players.

For Laikipia County, the tournament also represents a bid to position Nanyuki as a hub for emerging sport talent in central Kenya — a strategy that blends youth development with local economic activity tied to hosting regional events.