More than 500 Kenyan children have been able to take up cricket thanks to a donation of pre-loved kit from Guernsey.

Many of the children, who live near the Rift Valley in the west of the country, had never seen cricket equipment before, but the bats, wickets and Guernsey uniforms proved a big hit with them.

Elizabeth College students Louis and Sam, who helped deliver the kit as part of a school trip, said: “Being able to introduce them to the game and seeing their excitement for it was really special.”

  • A group of Kenyan children in two teams pose together with plastic cricket equipment on a sunny field.
  • A Kenyan child holds a plastic cricket bat while an adult stands nearby on a grassy field.
  • Kenyan children stand in a circle on a grassy field, playing a ball game under a bright sky.
  • Kenyan children in sports uniforms practice catching and passing balls on an open field.

A spokesperson for Guernsey Cricket said the kit, which also included pads, gloves and helmets, was already making a “tangible difference”.

“Rather than allowing good-quality equipment to sit unused, the initiative aimed to extend its life and support the growth of cricket in emerging communities,” they added.

The Elizabeth College students visited schools in Elburgon, Sulgwita and Tumaini – about 75 to 95 miles northwest of the country’s capital, Nairobi.

Teenagers and children from Guernsey and Kenya sit and talks outside a stone building with a bright red door and a yellow awning, with others standing nearby.
Pictured: The Elizabeth College students volunteered at local schools and a rehabilitation centre for disabled children. (Elizabeth College)

Beyond the cricket pitch, the Guernsey students worked with the Turi Children’s Project and Matumaini Rehabilitation Centre for disabled children and visited a local giraffe centre.

Among the activities they took on was serving porridge to pupils at Sulgwita before school.

On their final day, they spent time around a campfire “taking time to reflect on all they are learning and giving”, a school spokesperson said.

Cricketing family

Cricket is growing in popularity in Kenya, with about 5,000 young people regularly playing and training according to the East Africa Character Development Trust.

That makes the Guernsey kit even more impactful, as it’s given more than 500 children access to the game.

Richard Headington, from Guernsey Cricket, said the sport was “a global game that connects communities across continents”.

He continued: “To see equipment from Guernsey being used by children in Kenya is incredibly rewarding.

“This initiative reflects the spirit of our cricketing family, supporting participation, sustainability and opportunity beyond our own island.”

A large group of Guernsey teenagers poses together in front of a sign reading Giraffe Centre Nairobi Kenya, standing and sitting beneath trees and holding a Guernsey flag.
Pictured: Students from Elizabeth College visited the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya as part of their school trip. (Elizabeth College)

Global contribution

Andy Wright, from the International Cricket Council, said the scheme was “truly outstanding” and everyone involved “should be extremely proud of the impact it has made”.

He added: “This is exactly what cricket development is about, creating access, removing barriers and using the global cricket family to grow the game in meaningful and sustainable ways.

“Initiatives like this demonstrate how even smaller cricketing nations can make a significant contribution to the global development of the game.”

The rest of the donated equipment was currently being sorted and quality-checked by Guernsey Cricket staff and volunteers, a spokesperson said.

“Where appropriate, items will be distributed locally to schools, community groups and clubs to support participation across the island.”