Nairobi City Thunder Basketball team has received a major boost in their quest to maintain domestic dominance and strengthen their continental ambitions after securing a KSh10 million sponsorship from I&M Bank.
The partnership, unveiled on Tuesday, will see I&M Bank become the club’s Official Banking Partner for the remainder of the 2026 Kenya National Basketball League (KNBL) season, with the deal running until September and automatically extending should the campaign go beyond that date.
The investment underscores the bank’s commitment to supporting Kenyan sports and youth development while backing one of the country’s most successful basketball teams.
Speaking during the launch, I&M Regional CEO Kihara Maina said the bank was proud to partner with a club that continues to raise the profile of Kenyan basketball across the continent.
“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.
Thunder have established themselves as a powerhouse in Kenyan basketball, becoming the first Kenyan club to qualify for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in 2024 before repeating the achievement in 2025. The club also won the Kenya National Basketball Federation league title unbeaten in both the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons.
Club CEO and Founder Colin Rasmussen welcomed the partnership, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in both the team and the wider basketball ecosystem.
“When people think about basketball, they see the players. What they don’t always see is the ecosystem around it — creators, businesses, event staff, media professionals and young entrepreneurs. Partnerships like this help grow that entire ecosystem,” Rasmussen said.
He added that the sponsorship would provide critical resources to support the team’s preparations and participation in major competitions, including future BAL campaigns.
Thunder forward Tom ‘Bush’ Wamukota said the deal would further motivate the players to perform at the highest level.
“This partnership means a lot to us as players because it shows that our work is being recognized 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,” he said.
As part of the agreement, I&M Bank branding will feature on the back of all Nairobi City Thunder match jerseys for the remainder of the season.
The sponsorship is expected to strengthen the club’s efforts to compete with Africa’s elite teams while contributing to the continued growth of basketball in Kenya.
