Nairobi City Thunder (KENYA)

Biography
Established in 1998 as a corporate team under Kenya's National Social Security Fund, Nairobi City Thunder secured a local championship in 2000 and in 2001 represented the country in the Zone 5 Club Championships. The team later received sponsorship from the International Christian Center between 2003 and 2010, after which it operated through self- funding, reaching the conference finals in 2019.

In August 2023, Twende Sports Limited (founded by Colin Rasmussen, Kooshin Diriye, Stephen Domingo, and Sandra Kimokoti) acquired the team and professionalized it. In July 2024, Nairobi City Thunder clinched the Kenya Men’s Premier League Championship in a historic undefeated season and in December 2024, went on to become the first team from Kenya to qualify for the Basketball Africa League.

Growing from a social media following of 1,900 in 2023 to 25,000 in 2025, Nairobi City Thunder has reignited basketball fandom in Kenya and is well on its way to becoming one of the most admired brands in African basketball.