Boost as Absa pumps in Ksh65 million towards Magical Kenya Open

The 2026 Magical Kenya Open will tee off from February 19 to 22 at the prestigious Karen Country Club, attracting a field of 144 elite golfers worldwide, including 10 professional and amateur golfers representing Kenya and the past five winners of the tournament.

The players will compete over four exciting rounds for a share of the remarkable KES 348.3 million (USD 5 million) prize purse.

The Kenyan professionals participating include Njoroge Kibugu, Dismas Indiza and Greg Snow who will battle against other international golfers from 25 countries.

Out of Absa’s investment, Ksh 40 million will go directly to the Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) to support in the organisation of the tournament, while Ksh 25 million will be utilised by Absa for marketing related activities as well as to enhance the experience for its stakeholders, including customers, fans, players, and partners.

The sponsorship strengthens Absa’s long-standing commitment to the development of sports, tourism promotion and enhancing Kenya’s global sporting brand.

Speaking about the investment, Absa Bank Kenya’s Managing Director and CEO, Abdi Mohamed, said the bank’s continued investment in sports reflects its brand purpose in recognising the stories behind excellence, on and off the course.

“At Absa, our purpose is Empowering Africa’s Tomorrow Together…one story at a time. As such, we invest in sports as a platform where we see stories of excellence, resilience and possibilities. Through our sponsorship, we are not just showcasing the game of golf, we are walking the journey with players, communities and the entire sports ecosystem, while spotlighting Brand Kenya to the world,” said Mohamed.

The Magical Kenya Open Golf Tournament is part of the DP World Tour and remains one of Africa’s most prestigious golfing events, attracting elite international players, global media coverage and millions of golf enthusiasts locally and internationally.

The international tournament continues to play a pivotal role in positioning Kenya as a premium sports and tourism destination, delivering significant global exposure reaching millions of golf lovers worldwide.

“For more than 15 years, Absa’s sponsorship of the Magical Kenya Open has firmly positioned the Bank as the largest corporate supporter of the tournament.

“This long-standing partnership has helped elevate Kenya’s profile on the global golfing stage while reinforcing the country’s reputation as a premier tourism destination. It stands as clear proof that sport can be a powerful driver of economic growth,” said State Department of Sports Secretary Administration Evans Achoki.

Speaking at the same event, the KOGL Chairman Patrick Obath, welcomed Absa’s continued support in sports sponsorship, noting the importance of public-private collaborations in sustaining world-class events that are hosted in Kenya.

“For 15 years, Absa Bank has consistently supported the Magical Kenya Open Golf Tournament, propelling the event into a platform that has become one of Kenya’s most prestigious sports tourism events.

“Sponsorships from the private sector not only strengthen Kenya’s ability to host globally competitive sports events, but also showcases the country’s muscles in infrastructure development, hospitality, national pride and sporting excellence,” said Obath.

He added: “We take pride in the transformation of this tournament from an elitist's outlook into an inclusive family and lifestyle event. Partners like Absa Bank continuously strengthen our ability to deliver a tournament that meets global standards while elevating local talents.”

As part of Absa’s sponsorship, this year the bank will sponsor the “Beat the Pro” challenge, where junior golfers will compete alongside professional players at a selected hole to see who lands closest to the pin.

Each junior winner will be awarded a fully funded Absa Junior Account worth Ksh 50,000, reinforcing the Bank’s focus on early financial inclusion and talent development.

“Beyond the game, golf embodies discipline, patience and long-term commitment, values that we strongly believe in at Absa.

"Consistently investing in the Magical Kenya Open Golf Tournament continues to cement our belief that we are not just supporting a tournament but that we are backing our local players’ ability to compete on the global stage, proving that local stories matter even on the world podium,” added Mohamed.