The National Basketball Association (NBA) from the United States has made a significant commitment to bolster the growth of basketball in Kenya. This partnership involves the launch of grassroots programs aimed at nurturing basketball talent within the country.
This afternoon, an important and historic meeting took place at State House Nairobi, where the NBA officials, led by NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams, alongside five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and former NBA player Micheal Finley, met with President William Ruto. The event was graced by the presence of US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman and Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, among others.
The NBA will collaborate with the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Education, and the Kenya Basketball Federation to establish a comprehensive basketball ecosystem in Kenya. One of the key initiatives under this collaboration is the introduction of a Junior NBA clinic, engaging 70 boys and girls. This clinic will mark the opening of the NBA’s fifth African office in Nairobi.
This commitment is in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in New York during September, in the presence of President William Ruto, between the NBA and the Ministry of Sports. It is worth noting that Kenya joins Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, and Nigeria as the only African countries hosting NBA offices.
President Ruto described the initiative as a hallmark moment in the country’s sports development. He expressed optimism that this collaboration would provide Kenyan youth with the opportunity to pursue professional basketball, emphasizing the potential for talent commercialization and positive transformations in the lives of the nation’s youth.
