Spearheaded by the inspirational Caroline NYADIERO and staff who share her vision, beach handball in Kenya in recent years has seen rapid growth while planting deep roots across the East African nation.

As far back as May 2013, NYADIERO was introducing the sport to schools and communities along the Kenyan coast and now, as coach, she brings her women’s youth beach handball team to Dakar 2026 with hopes of creating more history, just as they did when the country made its global debut at the 2025 IHF Men’s and Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championships in Tunisia.

In Hammamet last year, a tough preliminary group saw Kenya lose all three games against the Netherlands, Germany and People’s Republic of China 2-0, to put them into the consolation round, but a 2-0 (17:16, 19:12) victory over an established Mexico saw them grab their first-ever competitive win, with a walkover win against Tanzania and 0-2 loss against Bulgaria at the same stage.

That meant a 9-16 placement round clash against Dakar 2026 group opponents and hosts, Senegal. After losing the first set 19:17, NYADIERO’S side bounced back to win, taking the second 22:16 and then shoot-out 3:0. This was followed by an 11-12 place loss against Thailand (0-2).

Tunisia 2025 was swiftly followed by a silver medal at the 2025 ANOCA African Youth Games in Angola, with Senegal overturning the Tunisia 2025 result, beating the Kenyans in the final, 2-0.

And the progress has not gone unnoticed back home with the President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, ‘…formally recognising the senior beach handball team, affirming the sport’s place in Kenya’s national identity…’ according to NYADIERO.

In the present, at Dakar 2026, Kenya will face Uruguay and France alongside Senegal in their preliminary group, with NYADIERO well-aware of the threat the teams pose.

“Being drawn alongside France, Uruguay and Senegal is both exciting and challenging. Each team brings unique strengths, and we respect the quality they represent,” she explained to IHF.info. 

“For Kenya, this is an historic opportunity to showcase our talent on the Youth Olympic Games stage. Our hopes for Dakar 2026 are to inspire young athletes back home, compete with courage and leave a lasting mark for African beach handball. We are ready to embrace the challenge and carry the spirit of Kenya with pride.”

NYADIERO and her squad have been training every weekend since December for Dakar, with a residential camp starting last August and support from coaching staff Evans OWINO, Roman JEMBE, Victor BWIRE and Diana KESEKWA.

Due to age restrictions in place for Dakar 2026, just two of the 10-woman Kenya Tunisia 2025 squad remain present for Dakar 2026, with Grace SIMIYU (seven games played in Tunisia, scoring 41 points) and Neema CHEMBE (8/34) making the journey to Senegal.

On the sand, they will be led by captain Mercy WANYONYI, who will be making her competitive, international debut in Senegal for Kenya.

The 17-year-old pivot started playing indoor handball when she was in grade five at primary school, before continuing the sport and adding the beach discipline upon moving to secondary school where she currently plays for Queens Beach Handball Club.

“Our team is a young, ambitious and talented group of athletes who believe that dreams are achieved through hard work and teamwork. We are proud ambassadors of Kenya and every time we step onto the sand, we carry the hopes of our nation with us,” said WANYONYI to IHF.info.

“Uruguay are a respected beach handball nation with strong international experience. We know they are a competitive side and we look forward to testing ourselves against them. France brings quality, discipline and a strong sporting culture. Playing against them is a great opportunity for us to learn, compete, and demonstrate Kenya's growth in beach handball, while Senegal are a team we know well from African competitions. We respect them greatly, but we are excited for the challenge and determined to represent Kenya with pride.”

And despite playing the sport for just two years, WANYONYI is in no doubt what it will mean to take to the sand at Dakar 2026.

“Being part of the Youth Olympic Games is one of the proudest moments of my life. It represents not only my journey but also the efforts of my teammates, coaches, federation, and everyone who supported us. We are excited to showcase Kenya's talent, culture, and fighting spirit on the world stage,” she explained.

“Beach handball gives me a sense of purpose, belonging, and the opportunity to represent my country. I love the sport because it is fast, exciting, and brings people together regardless of their background. Every match challenges me to be creative, courageous, and work closely with my teammates.

“Playing on the sand teaches resilience, teamwork, and discipline. Most importantly, beach handball has given me friendships, unforgettable experiences, and the chance to inspire other young athletes to dream big. Every time I step onto the court, I am proud to wear the Kenyan colours and show the world what our team can achieve.”

WANYONYI is part of a squad which predominantly is made up of players from Kenya’s coastal counties, “…where sand sports feel natural and are used to the climate which is similar to Dakar,” says NYADIERO, who revealed that proximity to nature has led to the team nickname; ‘The Sand Queens of Kenya’.

And the Kenyan beach handball ethos extends further than just the sport itself with under 12 and under 17 and adult beach handball programmes running, including links to community empowerment initiatives which encourage young women to take leadership roles through sport, climate change and coastal conservation projects, including planting mangroves and promoting sustainability.

School-based beach handball competitions are regularly held in Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Makueni and Kwale counties, while senior men’s and women’s national leagues featuring teams from both the coastal and inland regions run annually. Regular coastal beach handball festivals attract community teams and serve as talent identification platforms.

Further plans from the Kenya Handball Federation include the expansion of junior leagues nationwide, integration of beach handball into the school curriculum and strengthening of senior team pathways.

“Beach handball in Kenya has grown from small coastal tournaments to continental finals,” explained Kenya Handball Federation Secretary General Gikaria Nderitu to IHF.info. “The level is rising every year, and our federation is committed to building leagues, expanding youth programmes, and ensuring Kenya remains a force in Africa and beyond.

“For our federation, being at the Youth Olympic Games validates years of investment and opens doors for our athletes to dream bigger. It means Kenya is part of a global movement, not just a continental one.”

Coach: Caroline NYADIERO
Key players: Grace SIMIYU (Left Back), Neema CHEMBE (Left Wing), Mercy WANYONYI (Centre Back)
Qualification information: Tunisia 2025 – 12th, Highest-ranked African representative (after Tunisia)
History in tournament: 2018: DNQ
Group at Dakar 2026: Group B – France (FRA), Kenya (KEN), Senegal (SEN), Uruguay (URU)