When Bernard Wanjala first pushed a pawn in 2004, he was just another competitive player chasing personal glory. Twenty-two years later, he has orchestrated one of the most remarkable endgames in African sporting history.

From transforming a fragmented Kenyan chess scene into a nationwide movement, to overcoming a razor-thin electoral battle for the continent’s top chess job, Wanjala’s career has been a masterclass in patience, positioning, and precision. The opening and middlegame are over. He has just delivered the winning move.

The Opening Moves: From Banker to Chess Builder

Wanjala’s journey began modestly. He started as a competitive player in 2004, but his passion quickly extended beyond the board. With a Bachelor’s degree in Education and an MBA in Strategic Management—combined with 12 years of experience as a banker at Equity Bank—he brought a rare blend of strategic thinking and financial discipline to chess administration.

In 2018, he was elected President of Chess Kenya. The opening gambit was made. The real game was about to begin.

The Middlegame: 7 Monumental Accomplishments That Defined His Reign

1.Taking Chess to All 47 Counties

One of Wanjala’s most audacious achievements was spearheading the establishment of regional chess branches across all 47 counties of Kenya. This democratized the sport, ensuring that even a child in rural Turkana or a player in coastal Mombasa had a local chess structure to belong to. He championed “chess mashinani,” breaking the perception that chess was an elitist game reserved for Nairobi’s privileged few.

2. Integrating Chess into Kenya’s School System

This is arguably Wanjala’s most enduring legacy. He successfully lobbied for chess to be officially integrated into the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) calendar. “Chess is now in schools,” he declared, “and we are working with KSSSA to ensure it is fully integrated.”

The impact was immediate. Chess was later admitted into the FEASSSA calendar in 2025, boosting the sport across East Africa.

The results were remarkable:

• Kenya won 3 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze at the 2025 FEASSSA championships.
• In December 2025, 13-year-old Jadon Simiyu became Kenya’s youngest-ever national champion.

3. The “Chess for Protection” Programme in Kakuma Refugee Camp

In partnership with FIDE and UNHCR, Wanjala helped introduce chess to the Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps, one of the largest refugee settlements in the world.

The programme used chess for education, empowerment, and community healing. In a historic first, a Refugee Chess Team was selected from Kakuma to compete at the Chess Olympiad—an emotional moment that showcased chess’s ability to transcend borders and conflict.

4. Elevating Kenya’s International Profile

Under Wanjala’s leadership, Kenya began appearing on global chess maps. In 2025, Equity Bank’s chess team qualified for the FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship in Goa, India—a milestone Wanjala described as historic.

The team had dominated local competitions, winning the National Chess Premier League and Interbank Games three times in a row, and excelling at major national opens.

5. Introducing Structured Tournaments and High-Value Prizes

Wanjala transformed Kenya’s competitive chess landscape by introducing structured tournaments and raising the stakes. Over six years, the Kenya National Chess Championships awarded seven cars as top prizes—dramatically increasing public interest.

The 2023 Kenya Open attracted over 450 participants, and the National Chess League was revitalized, creating a clear pathway from school chess to international duty.

6. Membership Growth and Institutionalization

Wanjala oversaw substantial growth in Chess Kenya’s membership and established fully functional federation offices—rare among Kenyan sports federations.

He also implemented rigorous national team selection processes, including a comprehensive three-phase system for the 2024 Budapest Olympiad.

7. Continental and Global Leadership Roles

Wanjala’s influence extended beyond Kenya. He served as Vice President of the African Chess Confederation (2018–2022) and later as an Advisor to the FIDE President, representing African interests globally. He also advised the FIDE Social Commission on using chess for social impact.

The Endgame: Winning the African Chess Presidency

By 2026, Wanjala had completed his two-term limit as Chess Kenya President. But the endgame—the decisive phase of his career—was just beginning.

On July 31, 2026, at the 10th ACC Electoral Congress held at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Bernard Wanjala achieved the pinnacle of his administrative career.

In an extremely close and nail-biting election, Wanjala polled 25 votes to narrowly defeat the incumbent president, Tshepiso Lopang of Botswana, who secured 24 votes. One vote. That was the margin separating him from the continent’s top chess office. After years of positioning, building alliances, and proving his competence, Wanjala had executed the perfect endgame—patient, precise, and decisive.

The victory was more than personal. It was a testament to the respect Wanjala had earned across the continent through decades of dedicated service. The new Executive Board he now leads comprises leaders from across Africa, including Mohamed Abdulla Mohamed (Somalia) as Deputy President, and representatives from Gabon, South Africa, Ghana, Tunisia, Angola, Namibia, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Conclusion: A Crown Earned Move by Move

Bernard Wanjala’s journey from a competitive player in 2004 to ACC President in 2026 is extraordinary. He leaves behind a transformed Chess Kenya—county branches, a thriving school ecosystem, a refugee programme touching thousands, and an international reputation that commands respect.

His successor, Andrew Owili, inherits a strong foundation. Meanwhile, Wanjala now carries the responsibility of shaping chess development across 49 African nations.

Wanjala once said chess is “one of the most powerful brain-building activities” a person can participate in. Through two decades of work, he has shown that chess is also a powerful tool for building communities, empowering the marginalized, and transforming national sporting identity.

From rural schoolyards to Addis Ababa boardrooms, Bernard Wanjala has proven that with vision, discipline, and strategic thinking—much like the game he loves—anything is possible.

“You must not only be good but also disciplined and committed to showing up.” — Bernard Wanjala