President William Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to growing basketball from the grassroots to the professional level, following high-level talks with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum.
Held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the meeting highlighted Kenya’s ambition to leverage sports as both a developmental tool and a driver of international visibility.
The discussions centered on the progress of NBA Africa and Basketball Africa League (BAL) franchises, alongside the development of the Railway City multi-purpose arena, refurbishment of Kasarani and continued investment in basketball courts across the country.
These initiatives aim to provide young athletes with world-class facilities with Kenya positioning itself as a hub for regional basketball events.
The partnership is expected to implement Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kenya and the NBA, focusing on grassroots development. It also plans to integrate basketball courts into Affordable Housing Programme projects.
President Ruto assured the collaboration between the NBA and the Kenya Tourism Board will promote Kenya through sport and expand opportunities for the youth.
NBA Africa and BAL have already made strides across the continent, with Kenya’s involvement could open doors for local talent to shine on international stages.
