The Kenya Simbas have announced a partnership with Kenya Airways as their official sponsor in a significant boost to their Rugby World Cup qualification campaign.
The collaboration, valued at Ksh 15 million in kind, was unveiled during a ceremony held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, attended by key stakeholders from the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) and Kenya Airways.
The sponsorship is set to ease the team’s travel logistics as they gear up for the global qualifiers. The Simbas are scheduled to leave for a three-week training camp in South Africa next week, returning home on June 27 for a final pre-departure camp from July 1 to 2.
They will then head to Uganda on July 3 to participate in the Rugby Africa Cup qualifiers, where they will face top African teams including Zimbabwe, Algeria, Senegal, Uganda, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, and Namibia.
KRU CEO Thomas Odundo expressed gratitude for the partnership during the launch event.
“Thank you very much on behalf of KRU,” he stated, acknowledging the crucial role that Kenya Airways will play in supporting the Simbas’ mission.
KRU Chairman Sasha Mutai emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration, remarking,
“KQ has been with KRU in the past, and we are glad to have you back. It’s an integral sponsorship—having an airline as a partner significantly reduces travel costs. As the Simbas begin their World Cup qualification journey, this is a big step forward. We are very grateful and hope the partnership will extend to other teams like the U20, Shujaa, and the Lionesses.”
Kenya Airways’ Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu reiterated the airline’s commitment to supporting Kenyan rugby.
“We are back. On behalf of our CEO, we are happy and proud to be part of the Simbas’ journey as they seek a place in the World Cup. We not only focus on sponsorship but also on socioeconomic development. There is a lot of talent in Kenya, and as a brand, we would like to help nurture and showcase it. We are going to walk this journey together—this is just the start, and we are also looking forward to supporting the other national teams.”
Simbas captain George Nyambua expressed gratitude on behalf of the team, stating, “We really want to say thank you. This sponsorship will have a big impact on our qualification journey. We believe we are going to qualify and make you proud.”
As the Kenya Simbas prepare for this critical phase in their rugby journey, the partnership with Kenya Airways marks a promising step toward achieving their goal of qualifying for the Rugby World Cup.
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