-Absa Bank Kenya announced a Ksh.4 million sponsorship towards the ninth and tenth legs of the Tour.
-The two legs are scheduled to take place over the next two weeks at the Thika Greens Golf Club from 14th to 16th January 2026 and at Karen Country Club from 19th to 21st January.
-Meanwhile, Kenya is set to Host the All-Africa Junior Team Championship (AAJTC) in March 2026 at Windsor in Nairobi.
-The AAJTC is a historic moment for Junior Golf in Kenya expected to host over the 140 Juniors, a chance to showcase the Country’s rich Golfing heritage and its dedication to the growth of the game.
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The Sunshine Development Tour-East Africa Swing has received a major boost after Absa Bank Kenya announced a Ksh.4 million sponsorship towards the ninth and tenth legs of the Tour.
In addition to this sponsorship, Absa is also setting aside an additional Ksh. 3 million investments for leverage, including customer engagements and activations which underscores the Bank’s commitment to enhancing the experience for players, fans and customers alike.
The two legs are scheduled to take place over the next two weeks at the Thika Greens Golf Club from 14th to 16th January 2026, and at Karen Country Club from 19th to 21st January.
Absa’s support forms part of the Bank’s long-standing commitment to the growth of professional Golf and sports development in Kenya.
The sponsorship will go towards supporting tournament logistics and enhancing the prize money, with each of the two events offering a Ksh. 2 million purse.
This investment will ensure that players continue to compete under professional conditions that meet global standards, while earning valuable Official World Golf Ranking points which are crucial for the advancement to major global tours as well as the Olympic Games.
Absa Bank Kenya Head of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Charles Wokabi said the partnership reflects Absa Bank’s commitment in recognizing and supporting potential early, while enabling progression both in sport and in life.
“At Absa, we see the story behind ambition, the discipline that it takes to move from promise to excellence. The Sunshine Development Tour offers Kenyan golfers a clear pathway to global stages such as the Magical Kenya Open Golf Tournament. Our support for these final two events is part of our promise to unlocking local talent at a pivotal moment, ensuring players have the right platforms to grow and compete,” said Mr. Wokabi.
He added that Absa’s involvement in Sports like Golf and Athletics mirrors the Bank’s broader purpose in enabling progress for customers and communities.
“Progress is unlocked when communities have access to opportunities and the right partners to back them. Just like The Sunshine Development Tour represents progress for local professional golfers, at Absa Bank, we strive to unlock opportunities for our customers every single day,” he noted.
The sponsorship comes at a critical stage of the Tour’s inaugural season, with the two tournaments concluding the Tour’s inaugural campaign which was launched last year.
The Karen Country Club event will serve as the season finale, where the top 12 players on the combined East Africa Swing and South Africa’s Big Easy Tour Order of Merit will earn direct playing cards at the Sunshine Tour.
Sunshine Development Tour and IMG Kenya Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Gacheru welcomed the sponsorship, noting its importance in strengthening the Tour at a defining stage of the season.
“Absa’s support comes at a crucial moment for the Tour. These final two events are not just another set of tournaments, they represent the culmination of months of competition and the gateway to international opportunities for our players. Partnerships like this allow us to deliver tournaments at the right standard, reward performance fairly, and continue building a sustainable pathway for East African golfers,” said Gacheru.
He added that the Tour’s progress in its first season demonstrates the demand for structured professional competition in the region.
“The response from players, clubs and partners has shown that this Tour was long overdue. We are seeing golfers improve their world rankings, gain exposure, and compete with real purpose. Support from partners like Absa strengthens our vision of making East Africa a meaningful part of the global Golf landscape,” he said.
The Thika Greens leg has attracted a strong and diverse field of 83 golfers drawn from 11 countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Malawi, Zimbabwe and the United States.
Since its Launch in 2025, the Sunshine Development Tour has been designed to address a long-standing gap in the regional golf ecosystem by providing regular, high quality competitive opportunities for professional golfers and elite Amateurs.
Meanwhile, Kenya will for the first time host the prestigious 2026 All Africa Junior Team Championship (AAJTC), an event that will be hosted by the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) scheduled to take place at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club in Nairobi.
It run from Monday, March 22nd, to Friday, March 27th, 2026, with tournament rounds running from Tuesday, March 23rd, to Thursday, March 26th.
JGF President Vincent Mukiri said, “The journey to host the All-Africa Junior Team Championship has been made possible through the tireless efforts of many partners. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Africa Golf Confederation (AGC), the R&A, the Kenya Golf Union (KGU), Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU), our sponsors and specifically to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, for their unwavering support. This championship aligns perfectly with Kenya’s broader ambition to harness the power of sports as a tool for youth empowerment, unity, and socio-economic development, and the Ministry’s commitment is a key factor in ensuring this event will be a tremendous success.”
The championship, which is the premier golf competition for young golfers across Africa, will see about 140 of the continent’s top junior golfers, drawn from approximately 20 countries compete over three rounds (54 holes).
The Championship is a vital platform for identifying and nurturing young African Golfing talent with the AAJTC, which was first held in 2008.
It has been a proven launching pad for top players from Africa, many successful African Professional Golfers, including those who have gone on to win on the Sunshine Ladies Tour and achieve collegiate success in the United States, such as Casandra Hall, Danielle du Toit and Kaleigh Telfer who have developed their competitive edge through events like the AAJTC.
The tournament not only cultivates discipline and a professional mindset but also acts as the official qualifier for the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan, providing essential international exposure that prepares Africa’s rising stars for the global stage.
The Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) was set up by Kenya Golf Union and Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU), with the aim of promoting Junior Golf for both Boys and Girls.
Membership caters for Juniors between the ages of five to twenty-one year and with the main office
located at Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club in Nairobi, efforts to grow and champion for Juniors in the sport of Golf in Kenya are always underway.
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