President Ruto shares special courtside moment with Madina Okot in New York

For a young Kenyan basketball player making her mark on the biggest stage, seeing the Kenyan President sitting courtside was a moment that went far beyond basketball.

Madina Okot could look up from the court at Barclays CeCentren Brooklyn and see familiar faces from home.

President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto had made time to watch her play for Atlanta Dream against New York Liberty, turning an ordinary WNBA game into a deeply personal moment for the Kenyan-born star.

Ruto was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly but chose to spend part of his evening at the arena, where he watched Okot compete in her debut WNBA season.

And when the final whistle sounded, the meeting became even more special.

Ruto, Rachel and Okot met on the court, exchanged smiles and shared a selfie — three Kenyans connected by a moment that carried the warmth of home into a Brooklyn basketball arena.

For Okot, perhaps the most memorable part was something much simpler.

She got to speak Swahili.

“I got to talk some Swahili today,” a smiling Okot said after the game. “So happy I spoke Swahili to my President and the first lady.” 

Okot has spent much of the year thousands of kilometres from Kenya, building her career in the world’s most prestigious women’s basketball league.

The 22-year-old from Mumias became the first Kenyan selected in the first round of the WNBA Draft when Atlanta picked her 13th overall in April.

Now, in the middle of her first professional season, she found herself playing before the President of the country she represents.

For Okot, Ruto’s presence meant more than simply having a high-profile spectator in the stands.

“That was a very good honor, I appreciate him showing up,” she said.

“I’m the only Kenyan over here and it just shows how much he supports sports at home. I hope that this opens up opportunities for other girls. I’m so blessed to get support from him.” (The Washington Post)

Her words captured the significance of the moment — not just for her, but for the young girls watching her journey from Kenya.

On Wednesday night, she was part of an Atlanta side that defeated New York Liberty 83-65 to secure fourth place and home-court advantage in the opening round of the play-offs. 

Okot came off the bench and made her contribution in limited minutes, finishing with two points and two rebounds.

But on this night, her biggest moment may not have come on the scoreboard.

It came after the game.

A smile. A selfie. A few words in Swahili.

And, for a Kenyan girl who has travelled a long way to chase a basketball dream, a little reminder that home was watching.

From Mumias to Brooklyn, Madina Okot’s journey had brought her to one of basketball’s biggest stages, and on this night, Kenya came to watch her.