SportPesa has launched a multi-million-shilling national pool competition aimed at bringing greater structure, investment and professional opportunities to a sport with a large grassroots following in Kenya.
The SportPesa National Pool Circuit, developed in partnership with Cuevolution Plus Africa Limited, will establish a nationwide competition platform through which players can progress from grassroots tournaments to regional and national championships.
The circuit will be played under the Black Ball Rules format and will seek to identify emerging talent while giving established players more opportunities to compete consistently.
The first phase of the competition will run from September 21 to October 4, with grassroots tournaments taking place simultaneously across different venues and hubs around the country.
The programme will subsequently move into regional championships before three circuit events are held in Eldoret, Nakuru and Mombasa.
The season will culminate in the SportPesa National Pool Finals in Nairobi from January 8 to 10, 2027.
SportPesa Chief Executive Officer Ronald Karauri said the initiative was driven by the need to create stronger structures around sports that have attracted significant participation but have received less formal investment.
“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 many talented players have remained outside the national spotlight because of limited competition structures.
“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.
According to Karauri, the circuit will provide players with an opportunity to compete regularly, improve their abilities and gain recognition, while creating the possibility of earning a livelihood from the sport.
Developing the pool economy
The new competition is also expected to stimulate activity beyond the players themselves, with opportunities for coaches, tournament officials, club operators, technicians, content creators and other professionals involved in pool.
The investment follows growing international interest in competitive pool. The World Pool Association reported that more than US$11.4 million, equivalent to about KSh1.5 billion, was distributed in prize money through WPA-sanctioned events in 2025.
Cuevolution Plus Africa Limited Director Collins Tuwei said Kenya already has a strong base of players and enthusiasts but needs a more organised system to develop the sport.
“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 partnership would help improve the quality of tournaments and increase the visibility of players across the country.
The circuit is expected to provide a progression route in which players can move from local competitions into regional contests and eventually the national finals.
Circuit takes competition to the regions
Eldoret will host a circuit event from November 6 to 8, followed by Nakuru from November 20 to 22 and Mombasa from December 4 to 6.
The leading performers will then converge in Nairobi for the national finals in January.
Taking the competition to different regions is expected to widen access to organised tournaments and give players outside Nairobi an opportunity to compete on a national platform.
Pool is already played extensively across Kenya, particularly in social and entertainment venues. However, the sport has historically lacked a sustained national competition calendar and clear progression mechanisms for players.
The SportPesa circuit is intended to address these gaps by linking grassroots participation with organised regional and national competition.
The initiative forms part of SportPesa’s broader multi-sport strategy, which includes supporting sporting disciplines outside the traditional mainstream.
The organisers say the long-term objective is to change the perception of pool in Kenya and establish it as a competitive sporting discipline capable of supporting professional careers and creating economic opportunities across the wider pool ecosystem.
