SportPesa has launched the inaugural SportPesa National Pool Circuit, a nationwide competition designed to help transform pool from a popular recreational pastime into a structured and competitive sport with clear pathways for player development.
Delivered in partnership with Cuevolution Plus Africa, the circuit will create a national platform for players to compete, develop their skills and earn recognition, while helping build the broader ecosystem needed to grow the sport in Kenya.
The circuit will begin with a grassroots qualifying phase running from 21 September to 4 October, before progressing through regional championships and circuit events in Eldoret, Nakuru and Mombasa. The season will culminate in the SportPesa National Pool Finals in Nairobi from 8-10 January 2027. With total prize money of KSh 8 million, the competition represents one of the most significant investments ever made in Kenyan pool.
Creating Opportunities for Players Across Kenya
Pool is already deeply embedded in communities across Kenya, with players and enthusiasts participating in the sport in venues across the country. However, the sport has historically lacked the structures and sustained investment needed to support long-term player development.
The SportPesa National Pool Circuit aims to address that gap by providing players with regular competition, visibility and a pathway through which they can develop their skills and demonstrate their passion for the sport.
Speaking at the launch, SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri said: “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. 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. Through the SportPesa National Pool Circuit, we want to change that by creating a platform where players can compete, develop, earn recognition and ultimately see sport as a viable economic activity.”
Building Sporting Ecosystems Through the SportPesa Effect
The launch of the SportPesa National Pool Circuit is the latest example of the SportPesa Effect in action, providing sustained investment designed to strengthen sporting ecosystems, expand opportunities for athletes and create long-term pathways for talent development.
Across Kenya, SportPesa continues to invest in initiatives that support sport from the grassroots to the elite level. Recent partnerships include the National Sevens Circuit, helping develop the next generation of rugby talent, and a landmark long-term investment in the FKF Premier League aimed at strengthening the foundations of Kenyan football.
The SportPesa National Pool Circuit builds on that approach by applying the same model to pool: creating structures, increasing visibility, and opening new pathways for players and communities to benefit from sport.
As the circuit gets underway, the ambition is not simply to stage a competition, but to help build a sustainable future for pool in Kenya and unlock opportunities for the talented players already participating in the sport across the country.
