Cricket Kenya lands new sponsor for U19 national team

Cricket Kenya on Thursday 15 February received a shot in the arm as they announced a new short-term partnership with Star Insurance Company, one set to be directed towards Kenya’s Under-19 national team.

The partnership, worth Ksh. 4,215,000, is set to cover the side as it departs to Jinja, Uganda next month (25 March - 1 April) for what will be a tour series involving fellow East African nations Rwanda and Uganda.

The goal of the trip, bar exposure, is to begin the early rebuilding phase of the squad, which is set to see new faces join the journey expected to culminate in the next edition of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2026.

"It is such an honor for us to partner with Cricket Kenya," Jonah Tomno, Principal Officer of Star Insurance said. "As a new life and Micro-insurance company, we believe in the role sports play in developing society and creating employment among our youths.

"That's the reason we have decided to chip into the Under 19s and see to it how their talents can be beneficial to them here in Kenya, and also globally."

Also representing the company was Head of Marketing Manager Shashi Roy, who was much enamored with Kenya's cricketing talent over the years, adding much reason to their decision to venture into youth cricket.

"We are entirely grateful to Star Insurance for showing trust in our federation and am sure that keeping with our main three pillars of reviving cricket, attracting corporates, and kickstarting our rebuilding process through the youth system, we are on our way to great things," Cricket Kenya CEO Ronald Bukusi said.

Kenya’s quest to make this year’s U19 Cricket World Cup - won by Australia - was cut short in the final game, as Josephat Irungu’s side, needing a favor in the final game, saw Namibia come out tops in the regional qualifiers, and with it the continent’s sole ticket to the finals in South Africa.

U19 WC Qualifiers: Kenya narrowly miss opportunity as Namibia reign supreme

The big picture from this sponsorship, as per Cricket Kenya Development Director Thomas Odoyo, is to make the 2026 tournament, while also building a formidable squad set to form the senior national team down the line.

Selection for the traveling party is ongoing at the Nairobi Gymkhana Grounds, and will later extend to Mombasa and Nakuru in the coming weeks.