Twelve Kenyan coaches have graduated from the House of Coaches Project, an elite
Exchange programme born from the cordial and impactful relations between Kenya
and the City of Miramas in France.
The graduating cohort included nine coaches specializing in athletics, and three others
trained in taekwondo, cycling, and strength training.
The coaches, who were recruited from local sports clubs and Kenya’s educational system, participated in a rigorous training program in Miramas where they learnt about cutting-edge coaching techniques,were exposed to modern coaching methodologies, world-class facilities, and deep insights from France’s highly developed a sports science ecosystem.
Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, the Creative Economy, and Sports Salim Mvurya, who presided over the graduation ceremony in Miramas, praised the Kenyan coaches’ perseverance, discipline, and strength.
“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. In line with our Ministry’s mandate to identify, nurture, and expose talent, I am confident that the skills gained will impact thousands of young athletes back home, transforming raw potential into tangible achievement,” said CS Mvurya.
The Cabinet Secretary further commended the City of Miramas for its advancement in integrating technology into sports development.
He underlined Kenya’s goal to broaden collaboration with France to encompass new fields including e-sports and basketball in addition to the existing ones of athletics, rugby, fencing, squash, and golf,water sports, where France has already demonstrated global leadership.
“Through this visit, our team has witnessed firsthand the depth of infrastructure and technical expertise available 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.
CS Mvurya also highlighted the importance of broadening the partnership into arts,culture, and the creative economy, to empower youth beyond the sports field.
“This is a natural progression for a youthful country like Kenya, brimming with talent in music, film, digital arts, and innovation. Miramas, with its mentorship capacity and world-class facilities, presents an ideal partner in this journey,” he stated.
He invited French stakeholders and the City of Miramas to investigate mutually beneficial partnerships in Kenya’s strong points, specifically training in high-altitude athletics zones like Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County and in sports like mountain running and paragliding.
The Kenya-Miramas partnership continues to grow, with Miramas having already supported the establishment of training grounds in Iten, a region globally renowned for producing world-class distance runners, a testament to the power of international collaboration in advancing youth empowerment and global sporting excellence.
