Absa Bank Kenya has committed KES 6 million to sponsor three events in the 2026 Sunshine Development Golf Tour, extending its investment in Kenya’s emerging golf talent as the development circuit continues to provide a pathway to professional competition.
The funding will support tournaments at Nyali Golf & Country Club, Ruiru Sports Club and Kipipiri Golf Club, with each event receiving KES 2 million for prize money and tournament operations. The sponsorship marks the second consecutive year that Absa has partnered with the Sunshine Development Tour.
The first tournament tees off on July 7 at Nyali Golf & Country Club, where 80 golfers from nine countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria, India, the United Kingdom and the United States are expected to compete. The field includes professionals, amateurs, junior golfers and women professionals.
Additionally, Absa Bank Kenya’s Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Mwihaki Wachira, said the bank views the partnership as an investment in the future of Kenyan golf by giving promising players access to more competitive opportunities.
“At Absa, we believe that talent reaches its full potential when it is matched with opportunity. Through our partnership with the Sunshine Development Golf Tour, we are investing in a platform that gives Kenya’s emerging golfers the exposure, competitive experience and confidence they need to take the next step in their careers while contributing to the long-term growth of the sport,” she noted.
The Sunshine Development Tour has become an important stepping stone for golfers seeking to progress to the Sunshine Tour, offering consistent competition and opportunities to earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and Order of Merit points.
Further, Several East African golfers have advanced through the circuit in recent years, including Njoroge Kibugu, Greg Snow, Dismas Indiza and Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera, while Kenya’s Naom Wafula earned her place on the Sunshine Ladies Tour.
Sunshine Development Tour, East Africa Swing Chief Executive Officer David Ndungu said the renewed sponsorship would strengthen the tour’s ability to develop professional golfers across the region.
“Partnerships such as this are critical in creating sustainable opportunities for our golfers and raising the standard of professional golf in East Africa. The Sunshine Development Tour is providing a clear pathway for players to earn ranking points, compete consistently and progress to the Sunshine Tour and beyond,” Ndungu said.
As development tours continue to be increasingly important in bridging the gap between amateur and professional golf by providing players with regular high-level competition and exposure, organizers say continued corporate backing is helping expand those opportunities while raising the profile of golf in Kenya and the wider East African region.
Furthermore, Absa said the sponsorship forms part of its broader strategy to support initiatives that nurture talent, strengthen communities and contribute to the long-term growth of sport in Kenya.
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