The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) continues to position military sports as a strategic instrument for international diplomacy, institutional cohesion and defence cooperation, reaffirming the growing role of sport in strengthening relations among armed forces worldwide.
This commitment was demonstrated during the 81st International Military Sports Council (CISM) General Assembly and Congress 2026, held from 3rd to 9th May 2026 in Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco. The high-level gathering brought together military sports representatives and delegates from 77 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas to deliberate on the future of international military sports and cooperation.
The congress served as a critical platform for strengthening partnerships among member states while advancing the role of sports in promoting peace, unity and professional interaction among armed forces. Senior military officials and delegates engaged in discussions focused on governance, sports development and collaborative frameworks aimed at enhancing military readiness and solidarity through sporting activities.
Leading the Kenyan delegation was Major General Edward Rugendo, the Assistant Chief of the Defence Forces and Chairperson of the Defence Forces Sports Control Board. Kenya’s participation highlighted the country’s sustained investment in sports as an important pillar of military welfare, morale and strategic engagement.
As one of the world’s largest multidisciplinary military sports organizations, International Military Sports Council comprises 140 member nations and has, since its establishment in 1948, championed physical fitness, friendship and peace among armed forces globally through sports. The organization continues to serve as a unifying platform where militaries can build trust and cooperation beyond traditional security engagements.
The congress also underscored the complementary role played by the Organisation of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA), which promotes sporting activities and physical education among African armed forces as a means of fostering continental solidarity and peacebuilding.
For KDF, participation in the congress aligns with broader efforts to modernize military sports structures while strengthening international partnerships that contribute to operational preparedness and institutional resilience. Military sports increasingly remain an effective avenue for nurturing discipline, teamwork, leadership and interoperability among forces operating in diverse environments.
The engagements and insights gained during the assembly are expected to support ongoing reforms within KDF sports programmes, while opening new opportunities for collaboration, exchange and capacity building with allied military institutions across the world.
As global defence institutions continue to embrace non-traditional avenues of cooperation, KDF’s active involvement in international military sports platforms reflects a strategic understanding that sport remains a powerful tool for diplomacy, unity and enduring peace among nations.
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