Wushu Olympics debut inspires Kenyans

International stage

Kenyan practitioners have also begun gaining experience on the international stage.

In February, young athletes attended a training camp in Egypt supported by the International Wushu Federation before going on to compete at the World Junior Wushu Championships in March.

Among the young athletes hoping to build a future in the sport is 17-year-old Winfred Mukami.

"My goal for wushu is to see myself rise higher, to achieve something big," she said. "I want to become a superstar in wushu."

Despite its growing appeal among young Kenyans, wushu faces challenges in sustaining its expansion. As more children enroll, the demand for basic training equipment has increased, leaving shortages of uniforms, training weapons, and mats, Njonge said.

The shortage of qualified coaches is another obstacle. Some clubs have limited access to Chinese instructors, while local coaches sometimes rely on online videos, including You-Tube, to learn new routines.

But Njonge remains optimistic about its prospects. He is already looking ahead to the next international competition, with plans to prepare athletes for the World Wushu Championships that will be held in the Philippines next year.

Nelly Ishimwe, 13, one of Murimi's students, was inspired by wushu's debut. She has her sights set on the international stage and hopes to represent Kenya at the Olympic Games one day.

Shan Tianqing and Pei Tuo in Nairobi contributed to the story.