Basketball16 June 2026 - 16:00

Wamukota backs structured partnerships to drive Thunder’s continental ambitions.

Kenya’s BAL pioneers deepen ambition with fresh financial backing, as veteran forward outlines culture, growth and continental standards

by CHARLENE MALWA

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Nairobi City Thunder centre Tom Wamukota believes the club can evolve from occasional continental participants into a consistently competitive force in Africa if supported by strong institutional structures and strategic partnerships.

Wamukota made the remarks during the announcement of a Sh10 million partnership between Nairobi City Thunder and I&M Bank Limited, a deal aimed at strengthening the club’s operational capacity as it continues to pursue success both domestically and on the continental stage.

“For us, it’s about shared values, teamwork, dedication and everything that’s going on. It’s important to partner with those who share the same values. It’s important in the sport. Even the fans get more engagement,” Wamukota said.

The 32-year-old Kenyan international, who has previously featured for APR and Patriots BBC in Rwanda as well as Cobra Sports in South Sudan, noted that structured partnerships are increasingly becoming an integral part of modern basketball.

“This is what modern basketball is becoming. Structured partnerships are now part of the competitive edge, and they are changing how clubs build stability and ambition,” he said. The sponsorship deal, which runs through the remainder of the 2026 Kenya National Basketball League season with an automatic extension clause depending on schedule progression, comes at a crucial period for Thunder as they seek to translate domestic dominance into sustained competitiveness in the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Thunder have enjoyed remarkable success in recent years, winning consecutive unbeaten Kenya National Basketball Federation league titles and securing back-to-back BAL qualifications.

They became the first Kenyan club to qualify for the competition in 2024, before repeating the feat in 2025, shifting expectations from simply participating to consistently competing at the highest level.

Wamukota acknowledged that the club’s growth remains gradual, particularly with a relatively young squad still adapting to the intensity and physical demands of elite continental basketball.

“As a competitor, this increases more value in the team and basketball in general. The federation needs to have more of this in marketing and exposure,” he said. The experienced centre described BAL success as a long-term project that requires patience and repeated exposure to top-level competition.

“To qualify for the BAL takes time. Thunder are young—two-time champions and first-time qualifiers. Everything good takes time. It pushes us to a higher level,” Wamukota added. Thunder CEO and founder Colin Rasmussen said the partnership represents more than just sponsorship, highlighting the growing importance of commercial stakeholders, media and fan engagement in the development of professional basketball.

The club’s long-term vision is to establish itself as a stable regional powerhouse capable of converting Kenya’s basketball talent into sustained continental relevance. As Thunder navigate the demands of competing on multiple fronts, improving BAL performances, strengthening squad depth and securing enhanced commercial support remain critical components of their next phase of growth.

Speaking during the launch, I&M Regional CEO Kihara Maina said the bank was committed to supporting the club’s journey. “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 also 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.