NBA Africa’s Dual Impact: New Loiswell Academy Court and M-PESA Jr. NBA Program Uplift 10,000 Kenyan Youth
A cutting-edge outdoor basketball court was recently inaugurated at Loiswell Academy in Karuri Ward, Kiambaa Sub-County, Kiambu County, through a partnership between NBA Africa and Opportunity International, a global nonprofit focused on empowering communities with innovative programs and financial solutions.
1The opening event drew notable attendees, including NBA Kenya Country Operations Lead Michael Finley, Opportunity International Executive Vice President Randy Kurtz, Board Member Ken Wathome, Loiswell Academy Founder Lois Mbugua, and former NBA player Hasheem Thabeet. After the ceremony, 100 young athletes aged 16 and under participated in a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA clinic on the new court.
Funded by NBA Africa and Opportunity International, the court serves both Loiswell Academy students and the broader community, promoting youth engagement and talent development. Michael Finley noted that this project is part of NBA Africa’s goal to build over 1,000 courts across Africa, with hundreds planned for Kenya, to provide safe, high-quality spaces for young players. He highlighted the collaboration with partners like Opportunity International, the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education, and local schools.
With only 11 basketball courts in Kiambu County, this FIBA-standard facility, equipped with quality playing surfaces, benches, player zones, lighting, digital scoreboards, timers, and proper drainage, is a significant addition. Ken Wathome, incoming Chair of Opportunity International’s Global Board, emphasized that the court supports the organization’s mission to foster holistic child development, teaching skills like discipline, teamwork, and perseverance through sports.
Former Tanzanian NBA player Hasheem Thabeet (who was the 2nd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft) called the court a “stepping stone” for young talent, urging kids to seize the opportunity. This initiative underscores NBA Africa’s commitment to expanding basketball access across the continent, with the court symbolizing hope, opportunity, and a brighter future for Kenyan youth.
There’s clearly a great agenda in progressing the sport of basketball, which is upcoming in Kenya, falling behind football, rugby and athletics in popularity. Just a few months ago, we saw Safaricom, M-PESA and the NBA’s new basketball project in Kenya.
NBA Africa and Safaricom’s youth development initiative
On February 18, 2025, NBA Africa and Safaricom, a leading technology company in the region, launched the M-PESA Jr. NBA program, the largest youth development initiative by the league in East Africa to date. This program will engage over 10,000 boys and girls aged 13-16 in Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Kisumu, combining basketball training with financial literacy education.
The program began with a coaching clinic for over 100 local coaches at SABIS International School in Nairobi on February 15. It featured four regional tournaments in Nairobi (February 22-23), Mombasa (March 8-9), Eldoret (March 15-16), and Kisumu (March 22-23). In each city, 20 boys’ and 20 girls’ teams participated in skills sessions and competitive games. The top 80 players formed four boys’ and four girls’ teams for round-robin matches, with the top 16 boys and girls from each city who advanced to an elite top 100 camp at Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa in April.
Alongside basketball training, M-PESA, Safaricom’s mobile payment platform, provided financial literacy workshops to help participants develop sound financial habits.
NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi highlighted the partnership as a key step in making basketball more accessible to Kenyan youth, emphasizing its role in delivering basketball and life-skills development.
Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa noted that the collaboration aligns with M-PESA’s 18th anniversary in March, aiming to empower youth through sports and financial education. The partnership seeks to foster character, potential, and opportunities for young athletes to excel both on and off the court.
With the basketball growing at such a fast rate, it’s clearly a sign of it’s great future. The Nairobi City Thunder’s participantion in the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) further put Kenyan basketball the map. It’s only a matter of time Kenya gets it’s first ever player to participate in the NBA or the NBA players, with some Kenyans playing college basketball in the US as well as professional basketball in Europe.
Read more stories on SportsBiz Kenya
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook , X(Twitter), YouTube and our WhatsApp Channel.
All our links
