Media OutReach Newswire 
SportPesa has unveiled a multi-million-shilling investment in Kenya’s pool sport, establishing a national circuit aimed at giving players a structured platform to compete, develop their skills and pursue opportunities within the growing sporting economy.
The SportPesa National Pool Circuit, launched in partnership with Cuevolution Plus Africa Limited, will connect grassroots competitions with regional and national championships in a new competitive pathway for players participating under the Black Ball Rules format.
The inaugural programme will begin with grassroots competitions from September 21 to October 4, with tournaments taking place across multiple venues and hubs around the country.
The competition will then progress to regional championships before moving to three circuit events in Eldoret, Nakuru and Mombasa. The season will conclude with the national finals in Nairobi from January 8 to 10, 2027.
SportPesa Chief Executive Officer Ronald Karauri said the initiative is intended to address the gap between the widespread popularity of pool and the limited structures available to support its development.
“Our investment in pool is part of our wider commitment to supporting sports beyond the traditional disciplines and creating structures that allow talent to grow,” Karauri said.
He said Kenya has considerable talent in the sport but many players have lacked opportunities to compete consistently at higher levels.
“There is significant talent in Kenya that remains largely undiscovered because the structures around the sport have not kept pace with the passion and participation,” Karauri said.
The national circuit, he added, would provide players with opportunities to compete, develop and gain recognition while opening a potential route towards earning a living from the sport.
From recreation to organised competition
Pool is already widely played across Kenya, with clubs, social venues and community-based players forming a sizeable grassroots base.
However, the sport has traditionally lacked the national competition structures, sustained investment and progression pathways that have supported the growth of other sporting disciplines.
The new circuit is designed to address those gaps by creating a regular competition calendar through which players can move from grassroots events to regional and national contests.
The programme is also expected to stimulate activity beyond the playing table, with opportunities for coaches, tournament officials, club operators, equipment technicians, content creators and other professionals involved in the sport.
Cuevolution Plus Africa Limited Director Collins Tuwei said the partnership would help create a stronger foundation for pool in Kenya.
“Talent and passion already exist across the country; what has been missing is a structured platform that can bring that talent together, provide consistent competition and give players something to aspire to,” Tuwei said.
He said the investment would also improve the visibility and quality of competitions while helping organisers identify new talent from the grassroots.
Kenya eyes a share of growing pool economy
The investment comes against the backdrop of growing commercial opportunities in international pool.
According to the World Pool Association, more than US$11.4 million, equivalent to approximately KSh1.5 billion, was distributed in prize money across WPA-sanctioned events in 2025.
The figures point to the increasing professionalisation of cue sports globally, with tournaments attracting sponsorship, prize money and a growing support industry.
The SportPesa circuit seeks to establish the foundations for similar development in Kenya by linking grassroots participation with organised competition and commercial opportunities.
Following the opening grassroots phase, the circuit will move to Eldoret from November 6 to 8, Nakuru from November 20 to 22 and Mombasa from December 4 to 6.
The leading players from the various stages will qualify for the national finals in Nairobi in January 2027.
The organisers expect the regional format to broaden participation and give players outside Nairobi greater access to national-level competition.
For SportPesa, the initiative forms part of its broader multi-sport strategy, extending investment to disciplines that have significant participation but remain less developed commercially.
The long-term objective is to build a sustainable pool ecosystem in Kenya, giving players a clearer professional pathway while creating opportunities for businesses and professionals working around the sport.
The circuit could therefore mark a significant shift in how pool is viewed in Kenya, moving it beyond its traditional recreational role towards a more organised and commercially oriented competitive sport.
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