How support catapulted Kibugu, Wafula to prestigious Sunshine Tour series
Golf
By
Ochieng Oyugi
| Dec 10, 2025
Kenyan golf is experiencing a historic rise as young golf players, Njoroge Kibugu and Naomi Wafula, secured full playing cards on the prestigious Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour, marking the first time Kenyan golfers have directly qualified for these elite international circuits.
Their remarkable achievements reflect not only personal dedication but also the impact of a structured, multi-year investment in golf development led by the Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat, working together with key corporate partners and national golf institutions.
Beginning in 2021, and continuing through 2022 and 2025, Vision 2030 moved decisively to address long-standing challenges faced by Kenyan golfers, including limited funding, inadequate training support, and minimal exposure to high-level international competition.
Through its Social Pillar, the Secretariat launched a targeted programme to support both seasoned professionals and emerging talents preparing for major events such as the Magical Kenya Open and the Magical Kenya Ladies Open, providing direct financial sponsorship, logistical facilitation for travel and training, performance-based incentives, and branding support to boost player visibility and attract additional sponsorships.
Over the years, the initiative has supported a broad pool of professional and elite amateur golfers, among them Kibugu, Mutahi Kibugu, Dismas Indiza, Eric Ooko, Samuel Njoroge, and Simon Ngige, alongside several other regional players who participated in the Kenya Open and Savannah Classic events.
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This wide-ranging support enabled both emerging and experienced golfers to access the resources necessary to compete internationally and significantly improved Kenya’s overall competitiveness in the sport.
The results are now evident. In 2025, Kibugu and Wafula made history by qualifying for the Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour after strong performances in the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, which Kenya co-hosted for the first time.
Kenyan professionals, particularly Kibugu, also recorded impressive rises in global golf rankings, underscoring the benefits of consistent exposure to elite-level tournaments. Wafula’s meteoric rise from junior golfer to global tour card holder marks a breakthrough for women’s golf in Kenya and is expected to inspire more young girls to pursue the sport competitively.
These milestones have been supported by strengthened development pathways, including the creation of regional development tours that, when paired with Vision 2030’s financial backing, now offer Kenyan golfers a realistic route to international competition—an opportunity that was previously out of reach for many.
Kenya’s golf transformation has also been bolstered by strong partnerships with organisations such as NCBA Bank, Absa Bank Kenya, Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL), and numerous golf academies and clubs across the country.
These stakeholders have invested in tournament sponsorships, junior development programmes, training facilities, and athlete support systems, creating a holistic ecosystem that nurtures golfing talent from grassroots to professional level.
The success of Kibugu and Wafula symbolises a new dawn for Kenyan golf—one built on talent, opportunity, and sustained institutional support.
“Kibugu and Wafula’s lofty achievements have demonstrated that with proper funding, structured development, and strong partnerships, Kenyan athletes can compete and excel on the world stage.
“As the two trailblazing golfers prepare to feature in global tournaments, they not only chase personal glory but also carry with them the pride of a nation witnessing the fruits of long-term investment in sport.
“Their achievements are expected to inspire a new generation of golfers and elevate Kenya’s status as a growing hub for professional golf on the African continent,” Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat stated.