Popular Eldoret-based men’s and women’s basketball leagues have expanded beyond Uasin Gishu County to neighbouring Nandi, Bungoma and Elgeyo Marakwet counties, following a sharp rise in new team registrations, a 63 per cent increase in the men’s category and a 40 per cent increase in the women’s. 

Details and statistics on the tremendous growth of the men’s Eldoret Basketball League (EBL) and the Eldoret Women’s Basketball League (EWBL), as well as the striking increase in the number of registered teams for the 2025–2026 season, were shared with People Sports yesterday by EBL finance board member Kenneth Chemwok. 

“Both the EBL and EWBL have spectacularly expanded beyond Eldoret City to areas such as Kapsabet in Nandi County, Webuye in Bungoma County, and Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County. We now have teams from these counties registered for the 2025–2026 season,” Chemwok disclosed. 

In an interview with this writer, Chemwok said that in the EBL category, the number of new men’s teams registered has risen by 63 per cent, while in the EWBL category, there has been a 20 per cent increase. 

He revealed that in the men’s EBL category, new teams from Nandi County include Mosoriot Pharmers, Cheptil Girls High School basketball team, and Kapsabet Hawks, which has rejoined the league. From Bungoma County, Chetambs Bulls has joined the EBL, along with Iten Pacers from Elgeyo Marakwet County. 

Other new men’s teams that have joined the EBL include Team Sunday, Eldoret Yankees, Uasin Gishu County staff team, University of Eldoret (UoE), UG County Cheetahs and Longhorns, which has also made a return.  

The new season of the EBL and EWBL is scheduled to tip off tomorrow at various courts across Eldoret City, including Holtmann and Kelly courts, Sirikwa Pentecostal Fellowship (SPF) court and Uasin Gishu County courts. 

Chemwok attributed the high number of new team registrations to enhanced media coverage of the leagues by People Sports. 

“We are truly grateful to People Sports and, by extension, the People Daily newspaper for the extensive coverage of both the EBL and EWBL, especially from last year. The coverage of the EWBL relaunch, which had been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic in 2019, has greatly enhanced the women’s league’s visibility and attracted new teams,” said Chemwok.