Hosts Kenya stamped their authority on the clay courts of the Nairobi Club as the ITF/CAT Eastern Africa Junior Team Competitions for the 14-and-under and 16-and-under categories concluded on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

In front of a home crowd, Kenya clinched all the four available team titles--girls 14 and under, girls 16 and under, boys 14 and under, and boys 16 and under, underscoring their growing dominance in the region and setting their sights firmly on continental glory later in the year.

Kenya’s charge began with a composed performance in the girls 14-and-under final against Ethiopia, where Paula Ouko and Bathsheba Ogamba delivered a decisive 2–0 victory.

Ouko set the tone with a gritty 7-5, 6-2 win over Kalkidan Seyfu before Ogamba sealed the tie in emphatic fashion, overpowering Selam Meleko 6-2, 6-1. 

The result confirmed Kenya as regional champions and continued a remarkable run for Ogamba, who had already lifted the individual title days earlier.

The boys 14-and-under final against Tanzania was more dramatic. Kenya split the singles, with Evans Mundia cruising past Ibrahim Jibe 6-1, 6-3 before Indiatsi Olembo fell 6-0, 6-4 to Ethan Dzidzomu.

That left everything to the doubles, where Mundia and Olembo held their nerve in a tense match, edging Dzidzomu and Jibe 6-3, 3-6, 10-1 to secure the championship.

In the boys 16-and-under final, Kenya and Uganda were locked in a fierce contest that ended in the singles. UK-based Aum Chandarana launched the comeback with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Cilian Ndilima.

Jeff Okuku then produced one of the defining performances of the tournament, battling for three and a half hours to defeat Samuel Okello 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.

For Okuku, whose star is Roger Federer, the win was deeply personal, his first victory over Okello since their under-12 days, and it sealed Kenya’s third team gold.

Kenya concluded the clean sweep in the girls 16-and-under final against Burundi after a dramatic doubles decider.

South Africa-based Felicia Ouko lost the opening singles to Ange Bebita Ishimwe 2-6, 6-3, 6-1, but Nancy Kawira revived Kenya’s hopes with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 win over Marie Kezakimana.

In the deciding doubles after a 1-1 draw, Kawira and Seline Ahoya were impressive rallied from 1-4 down to take the first set 6-4, only to lose momentum in the second, but again took control in a tight tiebreak, winning 10-8.

Beyond the medals, the tournament marked a milestone for the region. Nine of the 10 CAT Eastern Africa member nations took part, with Somalia and Ethiopia returning to the competition, and only Comoros withdrawing at the last minute due to injury.

Bathsheba Ogamba captured the mood of Kenya’s camp after the finals, saying:

“Today we played the finals and it was honestly really good.

My opponent really fought. She gave me an upper hand and a wave of confidence to come into my match. And like in my match I was really confident and I was attacking the balls, going for aggressive decisions and I was just really confident and like my match was really good. The team event is actually really nice because now we've qualified to go to Egypt and like it's going to be really nice exposure for all the other young players that have joined 14 and under and it's really good experience to get better.

First, I have to focus on the individuals AJC. I have to like really push myself and like give myself to go for the tour and training before the African Junior Championships is obviously going to be tough. So I'm going to have to train hard and work on some things and come back with it.”

Tennis Kenya and Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) Zone 4 president Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani praised both the scale and quality of the event, noting the rapid development of players and coaches across the region.

“This year we had a really good turnout… The level of competition certainly a step up… As the president of tennis in this country, I am so proud of them… So, actually, our goals are not to win the zonals. Our goals are to win Africa Junior Championships. So, that's what we've been working on.”

For Okuku, the home triumph carried both joy and urgency as he looked ahead to bigger stages.

“It was tough today, but I won. For me, I want to say, tennis is an expensive sport. I would like to have sponsors who at least want to join me in my journey. It feels amazing to be the Eastern Africa champion. After this tournament, I will be competing on Monday in J30 here in Nairobi. I normally text Angella Okutoyi before a match. She motivates me. She's saying that I can win. Let me just go there and compete.”

The competition followed the Eastern Africa Junior Individual Championships held from January 14–17, where Kenya swept all singles titles through Ogamba, Olembo, Kawira, and Okuku, earning automatic qualification to the Africa Junior Championships.

With four team gold medals now added to that haul, Kenyan tennis players leave Nairobi clay courts not just as zonal champions, but as serious contenders for continental success later in 2026.