• RUGBY

• Frank Rotich 17 days ago

Safaricom makes a call to Safari 7s with Sh2 million

Safaricom, through M-PESA, has injected KSh 2 million into the 2026 Safari 7s tournament as Kenya prepares to host three days of top-class rugby action at Nyayo National Stadium.

The 28th edition of the Safari 7s will run from October 9-11, with defending champions Kenya Shujaa and Kenya Lionesses returning to defend their titles.

Safaricom says its support will go beyond the financial contribution, with the telecommunications company set to strengthen network capacity at the stadium to improve connectivity for fans and support the live broadcast of the tournament.

Fans will also have access to Safaricom's digital and financial services throughout the competition, including matchday tickets and streaming bundles through the Tikohub MiniApp on My OneApp.

M-PESA GlobalPay will also be available as a payment option during the tournament.

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa says Safari 7s provides an important platform for showcasing Kenyan sporting talent and bringing fans together.

The sponsorship comes as part of Safaricom's wider two-year partnership with the Kenya Rugby Union, valued at more than KSh 100 million, which supports the national men's and women's Sevens teams.

The partnership provides players and officials with monthly allowances, medical insurance, airtime allowances and financial literacy programmes.

KRU Chairperson Harriet Okach has welcomed Safaricom's continued support, saying the investment will help improve the experience for fans while contributing to the growth of rugby, particularly women's rugby, in Kenya.

A total of 18 teams will compete in the men's and women's categories during this year's Safari 7s.

The men's competition will feature Kenya Shujaa, Kenya Morans and a mix of international and invitational sides, while the women's tournament will include Kenya Lionesses, Kenya Cubs, Shibli and teams from Uganda, Tunisia and Spain.