A Digital National Stage for Young Speakers.
Kenya's national public speaking championship for children aged 6 to 17. Schools nominate. Children submit speeches. The country watches. Season 1 runs August to November 2026.
Anchor cohort closing soon. School registrations confirmed through July 2026. Sponsor slots filled on a first-confirmed basis.
Organised by Sprout Life Skills, Kenya's leading public speaking coaching company for children.
Four Rounds. One National Stage.
From the first audition to the Grand Finals, the championship runs entirely on SproutHub. Children record speeches at home or at school. Coaches judge anonymously. The public follows along.
Where the Championship Lives
SproutHub is the platform Sprout built for serious speaking development. For the championship, it does the work that used to take a stadium and a panel of judges sitting in a single room.
- Schools register and nominate students in minutes
- Children record speeches on their phone or laptop
- Parents sign digital consent before any speech goes public
- Coaches judge anonymously using a clear rubric
- Every approved speech appears on the public Wall of Speeches
- The public votes for People's Choice during Quarters and Semis
A Fair Stage for Every Age
Every child competes only with peers of the same age group. Speech topics, judging criteria, and time limits are calibrated for each category so the playing field stays even.
Sprout Spark
Stories, observations, and small moments told with confidence. Children at this age speak best when the topic is something they have lived. Speeches are short, warm, and delightful to watch.
Teen Titans
Choices, habits, and the world starting to make real sense. Children in this category begin to make arguments and form opinions. Speeches feel more like real talks.
Sprout Stars
Strategy, vision, and the world they want to shape. Speeches at this level are structured arguments with a clear position and a memorable close. Closer to TED talks than to school recitals.
Two Ways to Be Part of the Championship
Schools shape who competes. Sponsors shape what the championship can become. Both have a clear path in.
For Schools
Bring your strongest speakers to a national stage. Light setup. Real impact. Recognition for both the students and the school.
- One staff coordinator to nominate students and brief parents
- Helping students record short speeches on a phone or laptop
- Sharing parent consent forms via your existing channels
- A national platform where your students are seen
- Founders package: SproutHub coaching for up to 20 students, plus 6 nominees
- Starter tier: enter up to 3 nominees at no cost
- School trophies awarded at the Grand Finals
- Sprout handles parent consent, judging, and event logistics
Takes about 3 minutes. We follow up within 48 hours.
For Sponsors
Stand behind Kenya's first national speaking championship for children. Cash, in-kind, and discreet support are all welcome.
- Brand presence across all four championship rounds
- Full content rights to championship videos and highlight reels
- Recognition at the Grand Finals Community Festival
- Title and Presenting tiers also available
- Discreet partner option for organisations preferring private support
Quick form. Gikuyu personally responds.
A Full-Day Family Event in Nairobi
The championship ends the way it should: families together, students performing live, coaches and judges in the room, music between rounds, and three new champions named on stage.
The Day
Schools arrive in the morning. Each school carries its placard. Children meet other finalists. Parents settle in. The atmosphere is championship-grade from the first hour. The day is professionally filmed and photographed throughout.
The Activity Zones
Age-appropriate speaking and confidence games run alongside the main stage. Younger children play, older children practise, parents browse, and the whole space feels like a community event rather than a competition.
The Awards
Three category champions, one People's Choice winner, and school trophies for top-performing schools. Awards are presented in front of every family in the room. A highlight reel goes out within thirty days.
Venue and final date confirmed in September 2026. All registered schools and finalists are notified first.
Built by Coaches Who Coach Every Day
The championship is organised by the same team that runs Sprout Life Skills' coaching programmes. We are not event organisers running an event. We are coaches running our championship.
Gikuyu Muchai
Kenya's leading public speaking coach for both children and professionals. Gikuyu developed the Sprout Model and runs the championship's coach panel. He has personally trained over 500 students since 2023.
Milcah Wairimu
Co-founded Sprout Life Skills with Gikuyu. Brings a sharp eye for clarity and message structure. Leads school relationships and championship operations. Coaches at every age level.
Questions, Answered
Filter by who you are. Honest, straightforward answers. If your question is not here, reach out and we will answer it personally.
Use the "Enroll Your School" button anywhere on this page. The form takes about three minutes. We follow up within 48 hours with the next steps and a short call to walk your team through the platform.
The starter tier lets your school enter up to 3 nominees at no cost. It is a clean way to test the championship. The founders package is for schools that want a deeper relationship: 6 nominees, plus a one-month SproutHub coaching bundle for up to 20 of your students. Both tiers carry the same recognition and access. The founders package adds coaching value and broader reach.
One staff member acts as your school coordinator. They nominate students through SproutHub, share Sprout-prepared parent consent forms, and help students record their short speeches. Sprout handles judging, the platform, the rounds, and the Grand Finals event. Your time commitment is light.
Anchor cohort schools are confirmed through July 2026, ahead of the August 3 audition launch. Earlier confirmation gives you longer to prepare your students and select your strongest nominees. Registrations close once the season starts.
Any child aged 6 to 17 enrolled at a participating school can be nominated. The school registers first and then nominates its students. We do not take direct registrations from parents in Season 1.
One Founding Partner slot is available for Season 1. The first confirmed sponsor secures founding partner status across the season, including co-naming rights for the championship, top-tier brand presence at the Grand Finals, and full content rights to championship videos. Once secured, the slot closes for the season.
Yes. We offer a discreet partner option for organisations and individuals who prefer to support privately. Recognition is internal only, with full thanks in the post-championship report. Get in touch through the sponsor form.
No. There is no cost for parents. Schools cover participation. The championship is designed so cost is never a reason a child cannot take part.
One short speech recorded on a phone or laptop, on the assigned theme for that round. Sprout Spark is up to 2 minutes, Teen Titans up to 3 minutes, Sprout Stars up to 4 minutes. Children can record at home or with a coach at school.
The Sprout coach panel. All judging is anonymous. Judges see only the child's age category and speech, never the name or school. This protects fairness across every round.
Parent consent is captured digitally before any child registers. No speech is published until both parent consent and a Sprout review are complete. Child safety is treated as the most important rule in every part of the championship.
Yes, on the Wall of Speeches at championship.sprouts.co.ke, with the child's first name, age category, and school. Full names, contact details, and any identifying information are never shared. Parent consent covers exactly what is published.
August to November 2026. Auditions open on 3 August. The Grand Finals Community Festival happens in Nairobi in November. School registrations are open now.
Nairobi. The exact venue is confirmed in September 2026 based on finalist numbers and sponsor support. All registered schools and finalists are notified first.
We expand the panel each season. Reach us at [email protected] with the subject line "Championship judge interest" and a short note about your background.
A National Stage Is Waiting.
Bring Your School. Stand Behind the Movement.
Anchor schools and the Founding Partner slot are confirmed on a first-come basis. Now is the right time.
Are you a teacher or coach? We expand the championship judging panel each season.
Express Interest →The Wall of Speeches goes live August 3, 2026
Schools and sponsors who join now will be the first to feature.
