Twelve Kenyan coaches have successfully graduated from the prestigious House of Coaches Project, an elite exchange programme born from the strong and impactful partnership between Kenya and the City of Miramas, France.
The graduating group comprised nine athletics coaches alongside specialists in taekwondo, cycling, and strength training. These coaches were carefully selected from local sports clubs and Kenya’s educational institutions to participate in a rigorous training programme held in Miramas.
During their time in France, they gained exposure to cutting-edge coaching techniques, modern methodologies, world-class facilities, and insights from France’s advanced sports science ecosystem.
Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, the Creative Economy, and Sports, Salim Mvurya, who officiated the graduation ceremony in Miramas, lauded the coaches for their dedication and resilience. “I commend the 12 coaches for their commitment and perseverance throughout this rigorous programme.
The longstanding friendship between Kenya and France continues to flourish through such meaningful collaborations,” said CS Mvurya. He expressed confidence that the newly acquired skills would positively impact thousands of young athletes in Kenya, transforming raw talent into tangible success.
CS Mvurya also praised the City of Miramas for its innovative integration of technology in sports development.
He highlighted Kenya’s ambition to expand collaboration with France beyond athletics, rugby, fencing, squash, golf, and water sports to include emerging fields such as e-sports and basketball.
“Through this visit, our team witnessed firsthand the depth of infrastructure and technical expertise in Miramas. We are especially impressed by the professionalism of French coaches, the innovative use of data, and the seamless integration of science in sports. These lessons are invaluable to Kenya’s evolving sports ecosystem,” he added.
Furthermore, CS Mvurya emphasized the importance of broadening the partnership into arts, culture, and the creative economy to empower Kenyan youth beyond sports.
He invited French stakeholders and Miramas to explore mutually beneficial collaborations in Kenya’s high-altitude training zones like Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County, renowned for producing world-class distance runners, as well as in mountain running and paragliding.
