Kenyan Captain Tuwei, Sensational Kenya 1 Njoki Excited Ahead Of Glasgow Worlds As SportPesa Launches Lucrative National Pool Game Circuit

_{Left: Kenya team captain Collins Tuwei, SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri and Kenya ladies 1 Peninah Rose Njoki during the launch of the SportPesa National Pool Circuit in Nairobi on Thursday. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO}

_{Kenya will be represented by eight men and eight women at the World Championship set for Glasgow, Scotland on October 20-30, 2026. The SportPesa National Pool Circuit will have total prize of Sh 8 Million.}

Erick Ochieng and Lopez Atieno

_{NAIROBI, Kenya–} Kenya is stepping up training for the forthcoming World Pool Championship set for Glasgow, Scotland on October 20-30, 2026.

The country will be represented by eight men and a similar number of ladies who are currently on non residential training in Nairobi ahead of the global showpiece.

Ahead of the world showdown, the Kenya Pool and Billiards Federation (KPBF) was on Thursday boosted by gaming firm SportPesa who have come on board to lauch a high profile  national pool game series in conjunction with Coevolution Plus Africa.

The tournament, dubbed SportPesa National Pool Circuit, will have it’s grassroots battle from  September 26 which will be followed by regional contests in October.

The tournament will then proceed to circuit stages in October involving 128 men and 64 ladies from 20 teams.

The Eldoret circuit will be held on November 6-8, Nakuru circuit on  November 20-22 and Mombasa  circuit on January 4-6, 2027.

The finals for the national championship will involve 32 men and 32 ladies who will battle for a chunk of the Sh8 Million prize money on January 8-10 in Nairobi.

While welcoming the launch of the new pool game national circuit, Kenya men’s pool game captain Collins Tuwei said: ” It’s a new dawn. The kind gesture from the gaming firm has already motivated the Kenya Pool team to work hard and perform well at the World Championship in the United Kingdom. “I’m confident that through this national circuit more talent will be born here that will put Kenya on the global map in the next half a decade.”

Tuwei, who has skippered Kenya for over two decades, is fresh from leading his team – the Muchana Pool Club, to a second place finish at the Coemasters International Pool Tournament in Arusha, Tanzania.

In March, he led Kenya to a second place finish (ladies) and fifth place finish ( men) at the All African Pool Games held in Durban. He also steered Kenya to an impressive finish in another African clubs contest held in Johannesburg early this year.

“This season has been good to KPBF. The government fully sponsored our trip to the All Africa Pool Games in South Africa, the state is also doing the same for the World Championship. And now, corporates like SportPesa have come up to support  a national circuit that will not only tap talent, but will act as a pathway from grassroots to the world,” Tuwei said.

Kenya 1 (ladies category) Peninah Rose Njoki who is also upping her training ahead of the World Championship in United Kingdom says through profesionalising the game locally, Kenyan players will now dedicate their time fully to be better in the sport because of the lucrative prizes and the financial rewards that will be involved.

“I think this is a dream come true for most of us who love the sport. The national circuit is a game changer, it will persuade more women to embrace the sport since it’s providing a pathway from grassroots to the world stardom,” Njoki said.

SportPesa Chief Executive Officer Ronald Karauri predicted that their coming on board to support pool is going to make the sport a very serious business affair that will help to fly Kenyan flag high globally.

” The good thing is that this series is free, with lots of lucrative prizes to be won locally, regionally and at the national level.

‘In the next five years, we hope that formidable world beaters will be born from this tournament,” Karauri said.

Kenya national pool team set to travel for World Championship in Glasgow, Scotland

Men

1.Collins Tuwei (captain)

2.David Mbuthi

3.Fahad Farah

4.Cyrus Maina

5.Patrick Mwangi

6.Noah Esekon

7.Jackson Kariuki

8.Samuel Ngugi

Ladies

1.Doreen Wandia (Captain)

2.Peninah Rose Njoki (Kenya 1)

3.Jackline  Githinji

4.Naomi Ng’ang’ana 

5.Stella Kamanthe

6.Wairie Wairigi

7.Diana Macharia

8.Banta Wanjiku

9.Phyllis Njambi (extra reserve)