In a major boost for cricket development in East Africa, Cricket Kenya (CK) has officially announced the launch of its own franchise-based T20 league—CKT20—slated to begin in September 2025. This initiative marks a significant step in reviving cricket in the nation, which once famously reached the semi-final of the 2003 ICC ODI World Cup.
The inaugural edition of the CKT20 will be a 25-day tournament featuring six franchises, each allowed to sign up to five international players from around the world. However, only four overseas players will be permitted in the playing XI for any given match, ensuring a strong emphasis on local Kenyan talent.
To facilitate this ambitious endeavor, Cricket Kenya has partnered with AOS Sport Tournament, a Dubai/India-based company, in a five-year contractual agreement. AOS is set to invest USD 2 million into the league during this period, starting with USD 300,000 in the opening season. The annual investment will increase by USD 50,000 each year, reaching USD 500,000 by 2029, totalling USD 2 million or approximately KES 255 million at current exchange rates.
“This is huge. It will be exciting. It will be thrilling. It will turn around Kenya’s game for the better,” said Kennedy Obuya, a former Kenya international cricketer and now a CK Board Member. Obuya, who represented Kenya in 90 ODIs, emphasized that this league will serve as a game-changer for budding domestic players.
Chandra Prakash Panwar, Chairman of AOS Sport Tournament, highlighted the broader scope and vision of the league. “This strategic collaboration is poised to catapult Kenyan cricket to unprecedented heights. The CKT20 League promises to unlock vast potential for Kenyan cricketers, as well as talented players from other African associate member nations,” he stated.
Panwar further added that this initiative aligns with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, which includes strengthening Indo-Kenyan relations through support in tourism and sports development.
The CKT20 League is expected to bring a new wave of visibility, commercial interest, and grassroots enthusiasm to cricket in Kenya— a country long considered a sleeping giant in African cricket. With sustained investment, international exposure, and a platform for local talent, CK hopes to rebuild a cricketing powerhouse in the years ahead.
