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By Njeri Irungu,
\nJanuary 16, 2026.<\/p>\n
NCBA has officially launched the 2026 edition of its flagship Golf Series, unveiling a KES 60 million investment aimed at deepening golf development and strengthening talent pathways across East Africa.<\/p>\n
The launch, held at Karen Country Club on Thursday, marked the beginning of what will be the most extensive NCBA Golf Series to date. Now in its sixth year, the programme has evolved into the region\u2019s most sustained corporate-backed golf initiative, covering Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.<\/p>\n
More Tournaments, Wider Coverage<\/p>\n
The 2026 calendar features 166 NCBA-sponsored tournaments across the four countries, an increase from the 164 events staged last year. Kenya will host the bulk of the tournaments with 123 events, followed by Uganda with 35, Tanzania with five and Rwanda with three.<\/p>\n
Within Kenya, golfers will participate in 35 NCBA Golf Series outings, comprising 13 main qualifiers, 14 Mugs and two Club Nites. The regional expansion mirrors NCBA\u2019s growing footprint beyond Kenya, with Uganda hosting three events, Rwanda two and Tanzania one.<\/p>\n
The first official tournament of the series will take place at Royal Nairobi Golf Club on January 31, 2026, after which the tour will move across clubs in the region.<\/p>\n
Major Funding for Development Programmes<\/p>\n
A key highlight of the launch was NCBA\u2019s renewed commitment to golf development through continued partnerships with the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) and the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF). The bank confirmed that more than KES 60 million has been set aside for golf development initiatives in 2026.<\/p>\n
As part of the extended agreement, KGU will receive KES 6 million to support the 2026 Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Series. The championship has already kicked off with the NCBA Sigona Bowl at Sigona Golf Club, and the funding is expected to enhance competitiveness through improved prizes and tournament standards.<\/p>\n
The Junior Golf Foundation will receive KES 12 million to run junior golf competitions throughout the year, focusing on talent discovery, structured development and access to training facilities for young players across the region.<\/p>\n
Junior Golf Takes Centre Stage<\/p>\n
Junior tournaments remain the backbone of the NCBA Golf Series, accounting for more than half of all events scheduled in 2026. Out of the 166 tournaments, 90 will be dedicated to junior golfers.<\/p>\n
Kenya will host 49 junior events, Uganda 32, Tanzania four and Rwanda one. Rwanda\u2019s inclusion for a second consecutive year follows its debut junior tournament under the NCBA banner in 2025, signalling the steady expansion of junior golf in the country.<\/p>\n
The Junior Golf Foundation\u2019s Kenya season will begin on February 8, 2026, with the NCBA U.S. Kids Golf Spring Nairobi Tour at VetLab Sports Club.<\/p>\n
Building a Sustainable Golf Pipeline<\/p>\n
NCBA Group Managing Director John Gachora said the Golf Series is designed to deliver long-term impact rather than short-term competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur investment goes beyond tournaments. It is about building a pipeline that allows talent to be identified early, nurtured consistently and given the opportunity to compete at higher levels,\u201d said Gachora.<\/p>\n
He added that junior golfers have increasingly shown the ability to compete strongly against amateur players, reinforcing the importance of sustained investment in youth development.<\/p>\n
Strong Endorsement from Golf Stakeholders<\/p>\n
Kenya Golf Union Chairman Chris Kinuthia welcomed NCBA\u2019s continued support, noting that the funding has played a crucial role in elevating amateur golf standards in the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cSupport of this nature gives amateur golfers something meaningful to compete for. It improves performance, raises standards and ultimately grows the sport,\u201d Kinuthia said.<\/p>\n
Junior Golf Foundation President Vincent Mukiri described the partnership as a game changer for junior golf across East Africa, saying it has created clear and visible pathways for young golfers to progress through the ranks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen young players can see structured opportunities from junior to amateur and beyond, it fuels ambition and commitment. Expanding junior tournaments to Rwanda and scaling them regionally shows NCBA\u2019s dedication to developing golf at every level,\u201d Mukiri said.<\/p>\n
With a larger tournament calendar, increased funding and a strong emphasis on junior development, the 2026 NCBA Golf Series is set to further entrench its role as a key driver of golf growth across East Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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