Nairobi City Thunder ink new Ksh10 million sponsorship deal
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 16.06.26. | 21:44
Under the agreement, the sponsor's branding will appear on the back of all Nairobi City Thunder match jerseys throughout the partnership
I&M Bank Limited has announced a Ksh10 million sponsorship deal with Nairobi City Thunder, underlining its commitment to the growth of Kenyan sport and youth development.
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The investment will see the bank become the club's Official Banking Partner for the remainder of the 2026 Kenya National Basketball League season as Nairobi City Thunder continues its push to establish itself among Africa's elite basketball clubs.
The partnership, which took effect on Monday, 25 May 2026, will run until the end of the season in September, with an automatic extension should the campaign be prolonged.
Speaking during the launch, I&M Bank Regional CEO Kihara Maina said the partnership reflects the bank's belief in the power of sport to transform lives and create opportunities for young people.
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"We are proud to stand with Nairobi City Thunder at a time when the club continues to raise the standard of basketball not just in Kenya, but across the region.
This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting homegrown excellence, investing in youth, and building meaningful connections with communities through sport," said Maina.
The sponsorship comes on the back of a remarkable rise by Nairobi City Thunder. The club became the first Kenyan side to qualify for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in 2024 and repeated the achievement in 2025.
Thunder also captured back-to-back Kenya National Basketball Federation league titles in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, going through both campaigns unbeaten.
Nairobi City Thunder Chief Executive Officer and Founder Colin Rasmussen described the partnership as a major endorsement of the club's vision and ambitions.
"When people think about basketball, they see the players. What they do not always see is the ecosystem around it, including creators, businesses, event staff, media professionals and young entrepreneurs.
Partnerships like this help grow that entire ecosystem. We are delighted to launch this partnership with I&M Bank because it provides essential resources and strengthens our operational capacity," Rasmussen said.
He added that the investment will help the club prepare for and compete in top-level competitions, including future Basketball Africa League (BAL) campaigns, as it seeks to cement its place among the continent's best teams.
Thunder forward Tom "Bush" Wamukota welcomed the deal, saying it serves as recognition of the players' efforts and achievements.
"This partnership means a lot to us as players because it shows that our work is being recognised at the highest level.
Having I&M Bank behind Nairobi City Thunder gives us extra motivation to compete hard, represent the badge well and make our supporters proud throughout the season," said Wamukota.
Under the agreement, I&M Bank branding will appear on the back of all Nairobi City Thunder match jerseys throughout the partnership.