Safaricom's M-PESA commits KES 34.8 million in sponsorship for the 2024 Magical Kenya Ladies Open at Vipingo

8 February 2024

The four-day season-opener event for the 2024 Ladies European Tour (LET) calendar has attracted 108 golfers from around the globe. The event is the only women's professional golf tournament in East Africa.

Vipingo, February 8^th, 2024…  Safaricom’s (NSE: SCOM) mobile money service, M-PESA, has announced a KES. 34.8 million sponsorship for this year’s Magical Kenya Ladies Golf Open at Vipingo Ridge.

The four-day event Tee-ed off yesterday with the Pro-Am tournament. The 72-hole competition officially kicked-off, today, Thursday at Vipingo Ridge Baobab Course in Kilifi County. 108 players from across the world are expected to take part. 

“Once again, we are thrilled to be part of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open for the fourth year now since 2019. This year, we are sponsoring the event to a tune of KES.34.8 million. This investment not only showcases Safaricom’s commitment to promoting golf as a sport but also reinforces our fundamental role as a key supporter of sports in Kenya. As part of our sponsorship, we will support the juniors’ clinics at the event besides fully sponsoring four female golfers,” said Mr. Peter Ndegwa, the CEO of Safaricom.

The tournament is part of the Ladies European Tour, organised by U.COM Event. This four-day event serves as the season-opener for the 2024 Ladies European Tour and marks the fourth consecutive year that the only women's professional golf tournament is being held on Kenyan and East African soil.

As the official technology partner, Safaricom will provide a fully kitted media centre and high-speed internet connectivity in key functional areas during the event.

As part of its commitment to supporting young talents in the country, Safaricom will also sponsor the junior golf clinics at the event, with more than 100 junior golfers set to benefit from a full-day clinic with coaching from professional golfers.  

Further, the telco has also fully sponsored four female golfers; Margaret Njoki and Aisha Duba in senior category, and Vivian Adhiambo and Ekron Odhiambo in the junior category of the Pro-Am tournament.

Among the international golfers scheduled to participate in this year’s tournament are England’s lady professional Alice Hewson, who finished second last year, Thailand’s April Angurasaranee, Gabriella Cowley and South African’s Lee-Anne Pace. There is a €300,000 cash prize for the winner.

The all-amateur Kenyan team will be led by Vipingo Ridge’s PGA Academy stars Naomi Wafula and Jacquelyne Walter, VetLab’s Mercy Nyanchama, Muthaiga’s Kellie Wahito and 17-year-old Chanelle Wangari. The five will take the course under the amateur category.

“We are delighted to be renewing our partnership with Safaricom MPESA for the 2024 Magical Kenya Ladies Open. Safaricom have been valued partners from inception, supporting the growth and development of this tournament, and by extension, women’s golf both in Kenya and the region. This year’s support goes a long way towards ensuring the success of the tournament and we look forward to a sustained partnership with Safaricom going into the future.” said Mr. Dirk Glittenberg, U.COM Event Managing Director, and Magical Kenya Ladies Open Championship Director.

This investment not only showcases Safaricom’s commitment to promoting Golf as a sport but also reinforces its pivotal role as a key supporter of sports in Kenya. It is also in line with the company's mission to accelerate growth for fintech platforms in order to scale tech solutions and global payments interoperability and remittances.