By Maria Marenga

On May 9-11, the Spoken Arts and Debate Society (SADS) hosted the East African World Schools Debate Championships (EAWSDC), an annual competition for young debaters in East Africa. The event brought together hundreds of participants from high schools in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe for a friendly competition and thoughtful debate.

Held on campus, the event aimed at providing students with a platform to enhance their public speaking, critical thinking and analytical skills. Nearly 60 teams competed in both debate and public speaking, representing junior (O-level) and senior (A-level) divisions. Throughout the competition, the teams received feedback, guidance and support from a team of judges selected from Kenyan universities and SADS.

Over the course of three days, participants took part in five preliminary rounds before advancing to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately, the grand finale. Adopting the World Schools Style debate format, each team comprised of 3-5 speakers with the main and reply speeches taking 8 and 4 minutes respectively. As it featured both prepared and impromptu debates, the tournament challenged teams to think fast with just 60 minutes to prepare for surprise motions.

This tournament provided a platform for the young debaters to learn and grow. Besides the competition, students took part in training sessions that enhanced their skills, built their confidence and shaped them as future debaters. More than that, participants got to network, making new friends and sharing their ideas.

Hosting such an impactful event not only shows SADS’ commitment to enhancing the world of debate but also aligns with the university’s mission to promote the discovery and application of knowledge, the acquisition of skills and the development of intellect and character in a manner which prepares students to contribute effectively and ethically as citizens of a changing and increasingly technological world. The 2025 East African World Schools Debate Championships has opened doors for possible future collaborations and opportunities to grow and inspire the next generation.

With plans to host the East African Universities Debate Championship later in the year, this championship served as a crucial fundraising initiative for SADS.