Basketball is poetry in motion. In the ‘90s, Kenyan fans were glued to their TV screens every Sunday afternoon as legendary National Basketball Association (NBA) players weaved and danced across the court seeking victory. Magic’s no-look pass, Jordan’s fadeaway, Shaq’s dunk and Kobe’s pump, fake and pass remain memorable. And in the past decade, the ‘90s king of downtown shoots, Reggie Miller, has been reborn in Steph Curry, who effortlessly sinks threes, even from full court, claiming his spot among this league of legends.
In Kenya, basketball has a passionate following and a developed league structure. Although football and athletics dominate the country’s sports scene, basketball has carved out its niche, particularly in urban areas.
The sport was introduced in Kenya in the late 1950s and early 1960s by Christian missionaries and colonial administrators. Initially played in mission schools and YMCA centres, it quickly spread to urban centres, particularly Nairobi. Schools became key in developing basketball talent as the sport grew across the country.
The Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF), established in 1966, became the governing body. The 1970s and 1980s marked a significant period of growth for basketball, with universities and schools driving talent development. In the 1990s, Kenya made its mark in international basketball, particularly through its women’s national team, the Lionesses.
The men’s national team also participated in continental tournaments. However, the team faced significant challenges in qualifying for major competitions, largely due to inadequate infrastructure and inconsistent management.
In 2009, the Sprite Slam Africa tournament rekindled the fire for the sport among the youth. The tournament featured mini camps across Kenya, with high schools spotting Sprite-branded basketball courts, boards and balls. Former NBA players like Glen Rice and Juwan Howard flew into the country and were among those selecting winners who would attend an NBA camp in South Africa. However, this only ran for three years.
In recent years, there has been renewed hope in the sport. The growth of international basketball platforms and the rise of Kenyan players competing abroad have shown that the sport is here to stay. For instance, American-born Kenyan basketball sensation Iffi Kazmi has big plans for the Morans, Kenya’s men’s national basketball team, as he works towards making history by playing in the NBA.
Further, in 2023, the Kenyan basketball scene celebrated a major milestone when the NBA made a grander entrance since Sprite Slam by committing to support the sport’s development by opening a local office in the country.
This year, the NBA, in partnership with Safaricom through M-PESA, launched a youth basketball development programme geared towards empowering the youth by providing opportunities through sports.
The programme will empower youth aged 16 years and below through regional and national junior NBA tournaments, NBA Fit and coaching clinics, and an elite camp for top Kenyan prospects.
“Our collaboration with Safaricom builds on the NBA’s ongoing efforts to grow basketball in Kenya and across the continent of Africa,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “We look forward to creating more opportunities for young people to engage in physical activity and learn the values inherent in sport.”
The collaboration marks the league’s most expansive youth development programming in East Africa to date and makes Safaricom an official partner of the Jr. NBA in Kenya.
Watch the video below to learn more about the NBA’s plan for Kenya.
