Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o don announce say she invest for Kenya Basketball Federation champions Nairobi City Thunder, di first Kenyan club wey qualify for di Basketball Africa League. Nyong'o share di news for Instagram, as she wear club bomber jacket, and write: "I dey do tunnel walk to celebrate say I be investor for Nairobi City Thunder. Di Nairobi City Thunder na di first Kenyan team wey qualify for di Basketball Africa League, and I dey pumped and proud say I dey behind dem. TWENDE!"
Di investment dey come as Thunder dey prepare to face Kenya Ports Authority for di 2026 men's league playoff final. If dem defend di title, e go give dem slot for di Road to BAL qualifiers, wey dem plan to hold for October before di 2026 BAL season. Nyong'o don join musicians Bien and Chiki, wey also recently invest for di club.
Di announcement follow wetin NBA Africa chief executive Clare Akamanzi talk for di Unstoppable Africa 2026 forum for New York, wey dem hold for di side of di 81st United Nations General Assembly. Akamanzi say di BAL go move to permanent, privately-owned teams wey NBA and FIBA go back.
Thunder don qualify for di BAL two times. Dem collect dia first ticket for December 2024 after dem beat Uganda City Oilers 72-62 for di East Division Elite 16 semifinals, and dem end di 2025 BAL Nile Conference for Kigali with 1-5 record. For November 2025, dem return to di BAL through home run for Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium, dem beat Mozambique Ferroviario da Beira 109-70 and Johannesburg Giants 94-84. Dem finish 2-3 for di 2026 Kalahari Conference for Pretoria.
