Kenya invests in talent growth through Sports and Arts CBET pathway

The government’s commitment to nurturing talent alongside academic excellence is at the centre of the new Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) system.

Speaking in Irunduni, Tharaka Nithi County, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said that beginning January 2026, Senior School learners will be able to specialise in Sports, Arts and Creatives under the CBET reforms.

The other two pathways will be Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Social Sciences.

“The Arts and Sports Science pathway will integrate sports, the arts, and creative studies, a clear signal of our government’s resolve to prioritise talent development as part of national growth,” said DP Kindiki.

He added that the government deliberately chose to improve the system rather than abolish it: “We chose to improve and perfect the Competency Based Curriculum instead of abolishing it altogether. The education reforms have helped us improve the curriculum. It is now Competency-Based Education and Training because it entails wholesome education and training.”

To align with the reforms, the government has embarked on an ambitious programme to expand and modernise sports infrastructure across the country.

The 18,000-seater Nyayo Stadium and the 48,000-seater Kasarani Stadium were upgraded to international standards, enabling Kenya to successfully host the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).

At the centre of this investment is the 60,000-seater Talanta Sports City in Nairobi, being constructed at a cost of Ksh 45 billion.

The facility is set to be completed in January 2026, in time for Kenya to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In addition, new stadiums have been completed or are underway in Kakamega, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Meru, Embu, Kitui, Kirinyaga, and Kwale counties.

“Sports are no longer just an extra-curricular activity. They are central to our education system, our economy and our national pride. That is why we are building world-class facilities in every region of this country,” the DP emphasised.

Beyond infrastructure, the government is rolling out sports academies to identify and nurture talent from a young age.

Thirty-eight of the targeted 290 academies are already under construction, while the Kenya Academy of Sports is being restructured into the Kenya Academy for Sports, the Arts and Creatives to support learners pursuing the Arts and Sports Science pathway.

Kindiki also called for a change in mindset on how talent is valued in the country: “We have concentrated much on academics and condemned those who are not good at it, yet they are excellent in sports and the creative industry.”

He stressed the importance of recognising diverse abilities: “It is wrong to reduce people’s abilities to how they perform in only one area. In the developed world, sportspeople and artists are among the wealthiest, the most famous and influential people in their countries.”

The DP further cited ongoing engagements with more than 5,000 grassroots sports leaders and club representatives from Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties.

Covering disciplines such as football, volleyball, basketball, netball, athletics, darts, rugby, swimming and sitting volleyball for persons with disabilities, the forums are aimed at updating stakeholders on government initiatives and urging them to use their influence to instil positive values while discouraging vices such as violence, alcoholism and drug abuse.