Information, Communication and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo donated sports kits to the Kenyatta University basketball teams—Pirates (men) and Oryx (women).
Owalo, who is an alumnus of the institution, played for Pirates basketball team and was chairman of the Kenyatta University basketball clubs.
The CS also awarded the teams Sh100,000 and participated in an exhibition match involving Pirates and Oryx.
He was accompanied by the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) chairman Paul Otula alongside former national team players Ronny Owino, Maurice Aluanga, Angela Luchivyia, Sylvia Kamau, and Abraham Muthogo.
“Being an alumnus of Kenyatta University, I wanted to give back to the game because sports played a fundamental role in nurturing me to the position I hold today,” Owalo said.
The CS noted that both the men’s and women’s teams were performing very well in the national league despite having meagre budgets.
“Universities don't have enough resources to operate yet they are competing effectively in the national basketball league,” he added.
The Pirates won a silver medal during the 2022 East African University Games held at the Ndejje University in Uganda, losing to the hosts.
They also scooped silver in the All-African Games in Johannesburg South Africa in 2016 again losing to the hosts.
Currently, both the Pirates and Oryx are going through a rough patch and each sit bottom of the log in their respective national league standings.
Pirates have amassed 10 points from nine games played, recording a single win whereas Oryx have eight points from eight matches with zero wins.
Owalo also noted that it was his role as an alumni and former player to support the team in the wake of various challenges.
Head coach of The Pirates Caleb Wesewe cited the donation from Owalo as a much-needed boost that will raise the players' morale and help them stay focused on the games ahead.
