Largest Jr. NBA Youth Development Initiative in East Africa to Date
NBA Africa and Safaricom’s M-PESA, Kenya’s leading mobile payment platform, have launched the M-PESA Jr. NBA program, a landmark initiative designed to provide basketball development and financial literacy training to over 10,000 boys and girls in Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Kisumu. The program marks the NBA’s most expansive youth development effort in East Africa to date.
The first edition of the M-PESA Jr. NBA program kicked off on Feb. 15 with a coaching clinic for over 100 local coaches at SABIS International School, Nairobi. The youth tournament will then roll out across four regions:
- Nairobi – Feb. 22-23
- Mombasa – March 8-9
- Eldoret – March 15-16
- Kisumu – March 22-23
Each city will feature 20 boys’ and 20 girls’ teams, participating in basketball skill development and competitive games. The top 80 players from each region will advance to an elite top 100 camp in April at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa.
Beyond the court, M-PESA will host financial literacy workshops, helping young athletes develop smart financial habits. This aligns with M-PESA Go, Safaricom’s youth-focused financial service, empowering teenagers with the tools to manage money responsibly.
"Tipping off our multiyear collaboration with Safaricom is an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to make basketball more accessible to Kenyan youth," said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi. "We look forward to positively impacting young athletes and coaches through basketball and life-skills training."
Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa highlighted that the partnership coincides with M-PESA’s 18th anniversary this March, reinforcing a shared vision of youth empowerment beyond basketball.
"Through M-PESA Go, this initiative goes beyond sports. It’s about nurturing potential, building character, and equipping the next generation with the skills needed for success," said Dr. Ndegwa. "We believe that combining financial literacy with sports development will create lasting opportunities for young athletes."
With M-PESA’s influence on digital finance and NBA Africa’s investment in youth sports, this collaboration sets the stage for long-term growth in both sports development and financial inclusion for Kenyan youth.
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