NOCK acting secretary general Francis Mutuku said the organisation wanted to make an early start on preparations for the Games in the Senegalese capital, the first Olympic event to be held in Africa.

NOCK believe the preparation phase will be as beneficial for athletes as competing at the 2022 Youth Olympics.

"NOCK is partnering with National Federations to identify areas of collaboration, to identify and develop young talent in the country, the targeted age group is 12 years to 16-year-olds from all over the country," Mutuku said, according to Citizen TV.

"This is a great challenge to NOCK and to federations, but also a great eye-opener that professional athletes are nurtured from a very young age. 

"We expect that this will activate age-grade athlete development in all federations, especially the ones without these structures.

"The National Olympic Committee through the support of the Olympic Solidarity programme shall give scholarships to the top athletes and teams to start immediate preparations."

The NOCK Youth Commission will be tasked with overseeing this process.

Kenya won three gold medals and a silver at last year's Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

The Youth Games are marketed as an event where education and the experience for the athletes is more important than sporting success.

Dakar was chosen to host the 2022 Youth Olympics by the International Olympic Committee last October.