The United States National Basketball Association (NBA) has opened offices in Nairobi in a bid to support the development of the sport in Kenya.

Through a partnership with the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Education and Kenya Basketball Federation, the federation has promised to implement grassroots programmes to nurture talent in the country.

“As part of this initiative, a Junior NBA clinic is set to engage 70 boys and girls to commemorate the inauguration of the NBA’s fifth African office in Nairobi. This is in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in New York in September between the NBA and the Ministry of Sports in the presence of President William Ruto,” State House said in a statement on Wednesday.

Currently, in Africa, the federation has offices in four other countries including Egypt, Senegal, South Africa and Nigeria.

Ruto meets NBA officials

On Wednesday, Ruto, alongside US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman and Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, met NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams, five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and former NBA player Micheal Finley.

According to Ruto, the initiative as a turning point in the development of the sport in the country which will give Kenyan youth an opportunity to pursue professional basketball.

“Professional basketball promises to enhance talent commercialisation and transform the lives of our youth,” Ruto said.