Protect Children First, Sport Must Be Safe Before It Can Be Fair

Every child has the right to play sport in a safe and supportive environment. Unfortunately across various parts of Kenya, that basic right is being put at risk. When older athletes are allowed to compete in younger age groups, it’s not just unfair, it’s dangerous.

Age cheating significantly increases the risk of injury to younger, less physically developed players. It undermines confidence, discourages participation, and exposes children to emotional, physical, and psychological harm. Coaches, federations, and tournament organisers who turn a blind eye to this issue are failing the very children they are meant to protect.

At DBA Africa, the safety and wellbeing of children always comes first. We cannot claim to be building sport in Kenya while ignoring the harm happening to its youngest players.

Furthermore, with very few athletes or even national teams insured in Kenya, who ultimately bears the cost of injuries resulting from age-grade cheating and unsafe practices at the grassroots level?

Age Cheating Is Robbing Kids of Their Right to Safe and Fair Sport

At countless youth tournaments and in national age-grade teams across Kenya, age cheating has become disturbingly common, so much so that it is now accepted as how things are. This isn't a minor infraction, It’s a widespread problem that hurts real children and damages the development of sport in this country.

Why Fair Competition in Youth Sport Matters

Youth sport should be a place where children grow in confidence, make friends, and build character. But when age categories are manipulated, everyone loses, especially the honest kids who do the right thing. Here are some of the consequences when older players are allowed in younger age brackets:
• The sport becomes physically unsafe.
• Children are placed at serious risk of injury.
• Honest players are sidelined.
• Hard-working, rule-abiding athletes lose their spots to over-aged players.
• Winning is prioritised over integrity.
• The lesson learned is that cheating is okay, as long as it leads to victory.

• Young athletes then lack integrity in other areas of their life.

This isn’t just a sporting issue, it’s an issue of values. If coaches, federations, and school leaders don’t make safety and fairness their top priority, they are not fit to lead. Worse, they are complicit in endangering children, damaging the future of sport and are failing to model integrity for the next generation.

This Is About Children’s Rights

Children have the right to grow, play, and compete in a fair environment. Age cheating steals this right, while sending a dangerous message: that lying, bending the rules, and endangering others is acceptable if it means winning.

If we want a generation of strong, honest, and talented athletes, we must start by protecting their right to a safe and level playing field.

What Must Change

To end age cheating and protect real sport development, we must demand action from those in power, federations, coaches, schools, and officials:
• Acknowledge the problem. Speak openly about the issue and call it what it is — cheating.
• Enforce ID checks. Use digital registration systems to verify ages.
• Support honest coaches and clubs. Recognise and reward those who play by the rules.
• Educate everyone. Teach parents, players, and educators about the harm age cheating causes.
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Let Kids Be Kids

DBA Africa remains firmly committed to the safety and development of young athletes. That’s why we will continue to refuse participation in matches or tournaments that include over-aged players, even when it costs us results. Protecting children is more important than winning games.

We call on others in Kenya’s sporting community to do the same. Cheating should never be the norm. The future of sport in Kenya depends on what we do today to protect and empower young players.

Let’s stop normalising cheating. Let’s start valuing kids for who they are, and the future they deserve.