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Kenyan basketball is entering 2025 on a high, riding the wave of a thrilling 2023-2024 Kenya National Basketball League (KNBL) season that saw fan engagement hit record levels. Nairobi City Thunder became the pulse of this resurgence, their dominant run—powered by professional talent and revamped management—drawing fans in droves and boosting attendance by over 200 percent.

During the 2023-24 KNBL season, Kenya’s national men’s and women’s basketball teams, alongside local clubs, participated in more than 12 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) global basketball competitions. The teams achieved notable successes in some outings while also registering underwhelming performances in others.

The statistics reflecting the unprecedented growth of Kenyan basketball fans (most league games were held at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium) were provided by Thunder’s assistant team manager Bernet Ojay and Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) secretary general Angela Luchivya.

A competitive season

In an interview with People Sport, Ojay reflected on the team’s performance during the just-concluded KNBL season.

“The season under review was extremely competitive. Although Thunder won the KNBL Premier League unbeaten for the first time, our opponents, Equity Dumas, pushed us to the edge in every game we played against them,” Ojay said.

He further added, “Equity Dumas gave us stiff competition during the KNBL Premier semi-finals. We won against them by a slim margin—either by a basket or a basket and a half, which is 2 or 3 points. The games could have gone either way.”

Despite the tough challenge, Thunder’s teamwork helped them overcome the determined Equity Dumas during the semi-finals. This victory earned them a spot in the KNBL Premier League final against defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in a best-of-five series.

Thunder defeated KPA 73-70 in the first game of the play-offs, followed by a 59-50 win at KPA’s home ground, Makande Indoor Basketball Court. They secured the championship with a commanding 86-46 victory at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium.

This historic triumph marked Thunder’s first KNBL Premier League title, dethroning KPA, a team that, along with Ulinzi Warriors, had long dominated the country’s apex basketball competition.

KPA clinched the KNBL title in the 2022-2023 season, while Ulinzi Warriors had won it during the 2021-2022 season. These two teams have historically enjoyed significant success in the league.

“Kenyan fans had expected Thunder to face Equity Dumas in the KNBL Premier League play-offs final, but circumstances led to us playing KPA instead,” Ojay noted.

He further credited the team’s success to their sponsor and owner, Twende Sports, who acquired the team ahead of the 2023-2024 season. Twende Sports implemented professional management structures, transforming Thunder into a formidable outfit and elevating basketball standards in the country.

Thunder players Garang Diing and Griffin Ligare highlighted the significant impact Twende Sports had on the team’s performance.

“Coach Brad Ibs instilled a selfless playing mantra in the team, which enhanced cohesion and contributed greatly to our success. This approach helped us win the KNBL Premier League and excel in the Road to Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers, ultimately earning a spot in the BAL,” Ligare explained.

International players

Ligare also revealed that Twende Sports recruited foreign-based players such as Taylor Ongwae, Derrick Ogechi, Uchenna Iroegbu, Abdoulaye Amadou and William Sidney Davis II, whose international experience played a crucial role in the team’s outstanding performance.

Ojay added that the professional management style, improved contracts, better salaries, and enhanced player welfare attracted top talent and motivated the team to excel. Thunder’s performance during league games consistently drew large crowds, particularly at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium.

“The basketball court was always packed, with attendance exceeding 200 percent of its 600-seat capacity. Fans filled every available space, even standing areas,” Ojay recalled.

The fan base followed Thunder to other venues, including the Kasarani International Sports Centre, where the team played during the Road to BAL Elite 16 Stage East Division qualifiers. They faced teams such as Burundi’s Urunani BBC, South Africa’s MBB Soldiers, Uganda’s City Oilers and Malawi’s Bravehearts, among others.

KBF secretary general Luchivya acknowledged Thunder’s role in boosting fan numbers. “Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium became too small. During the KNBL play-offs finals, we had to turn away over 200 fans due to lack of space,” she said.

However, Ojay criticised KBF for not contributing to the increased fan base, accusing the federation of failing to market the league effectively. “KBF only focuses on fixtures and does nothing to promote the game. They don’t even have a website to update fans about upcoming games,” he lamented.

Ojay also expressed frustration over KBF’s erratic release of weekly fixtures, which disrupted team planning and allowed some teams to seek postponements. He called for a more structured fixture schedule for the upcoming 2025-2026 season to avoid unnecessary delays and financial strain on teams.

Echoing Ojay’s sentiments, Diing criticised the league’s length, which stretched to almost 11 months. “This was physically draining for players. Ideally, the league should last about six to seven months,” he said.

Sponsorship hurdles

Another issue raised by Ojay was the lack of a title sponsor for the KNBL. He urged KBF to secure sponsorship to make the league more competitive and rewarding for players. He pointed out that other organisations, such as Gria, Red Bull, and Betika, have revolutionised street basketball by offering substantial cash prizes.

KBF secretary general Luchivya defended the federation, stating that securing sponsorship is an ongoing effort. “Finding sponsors takes time. We’re competing with other sports for limited sponsorship opportunities, but we’re not giving up,” she said.

Luchivya highlighted other achievements by KBF, including managing the league and overseeing Kenya’s participation in various FIBA competitions. She also noted the promotion of Stanbic to the Premier League, as KBF’s constitution prohibits a single sponsor from fielding two teams in the top tier.