Oscar-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o has announced that she has become an investor in Nairobi City Thunder, the Kenyan basketball club competing in the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Nyong’o announced the investment in the club on September 24, 2026, on her social media platform.
Her announcement comes as the club emerges as the first Kenyan team to qualify for the Basketball Africa League continental competition.
Praising the club’s performance, Lupita said she is ready to work with the club and offer her support.
“Taking a tunnel walk to celebrate that I am an investor in Nairobi City Thunder. The Nairobi City Thunder are the first Kenyan team to qualify for the Basketball Africa League, and I am pumped and proud to be behind them,” part of Lupita Nyong’o’s statement read.
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Lupita Nyong’o on KNBL Finals
The actress also wished all players in the the Kenya National Basketball League (KNBL) Finals the best, with the Nairobi City Thunder set to play in the finals.
“Big weekend ahead with the start of the KNBL Finals! Wishing everyone on and off the court a great time!” Lupita stated.
Nairobi City Thunder will face Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in a best-of-five championship series as the 2026 KNBL Finals begin on September 26.
Nairobi City Thunder reached the Finals after defeating Stanbic Shields 3-0 in their semifinal series, while KPA secured its place after sweeping Equity Dumas 3-0.
The opening two games are scheduled for September 26 and 27 at 6:00 p.m., with KPA hosting the matches at its home venue at Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa.
KPA and The Thunder are meeting in the KNBL Finals for the third consecutive season, with Nairobi City Thunder entering the series as the defending champions.
Later, the series will then move to Nairobi, where Game 3 is scheduled for October 2 at 8:00 p.m. at Nyayo Gymnasium.
2026 BAL Competition Receiving Investment from Lupita Nyong’o
In the 2026 Road to BAL competition, Nairobi City Thunder secured another qualification after defeating Mozambique’s Ferroviário da Beira at 109-70. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) reported that the result secured the final BAL qualification place from the East Division.
The team subsequently won the 2026 East Division Elite 16 title after defeating Johannesburg Giants 94-84 in Nairobi.
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Nairobi City Thunder’s BAL Journey
Nairobi City Thunder first made history in December 2024 when it became the first Kenyan club to qualify for the Basketball Africa League.
Nairobi City Thunder qualified for the BAL after winning the East Division Elite 16 tournament, completing an unbeaten run in the tournament.
The club made its BAL debut in 2025, where it was placed in the Nile Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, alongside Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya, APR of Rwanda, and South Africa’s Made By Ball (MBB), and played between May 17 and 25.
Thunder recorded its first BAL victory during its debut campaign on May 24, 2025, when it defeated MBB 85-76 at BK Arena in Kigali.
During the tournament, the Kenyan team finished with one victory from six games and did not advance to the playoffs.
The club later returned to the Road to BAL competition. As hosts, Thunder received a direct place in the East Division Elite 16, held at the Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium in Nairobi from November 18 to 23, 2025.
Teams competing included the Johannesburg Giants of South Africa, Uganda’s Namuwongo Blazers, Tanzania’s Dar City, Mozambique’s Ferroviario da Beira, Zambia’s Matero Magic, and Malawi’s Bravehearts.
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