What began as casual weekend training sessions became a lifeline for boys in Nairobi’s Huruma estate seeking guidance and support. Jubilee Insurance CFO Eugine Mutekhele’s basketball project now provides pathways to education and work.
Eugine Mutekhele has been playing basketball since he was a child, long before he ever imagined a career in finance. A few years ago, he and a group of friends approached a church in Huruma to ask for access to its open court. Their intention at the beginning was to find a place where they could play without disruption.
“So I started playing basketball a long time ago. Still in primary school, just as I was about to join High School, so 1999 is when I started. And funny enough, I still play. I've played to all levels, up to the highest level here in Kenya,” he reveals.
As the group played, boys from the neighbourhood would mill around the court. They would play basketball and leave soon after the games. Soon, they began to stay longer and watch Eugine and his friends play.
“And we actually took an interest in them and started asking them, so what do you do? And some had dropped out of school or finished college. Somebody has diploma papers but no job yet,” he says.
Over time, the group began asking the boys more pointed questions about their daily lives and ambitions. Eugine and his friends decided to invite them to join their own lower tier league and play with them. This gave the boys a sense of belonging and a pathway to test their talent.
“It gives them a chance to play in an organised environment. It also gives them structure and keeps them busy,” he says.
New opportunities
With time, basketball talent scouts who travel across the country began to take notice. Some of the boys secured scholarships that covered their education, while others found contract work that later turned into full employment. Because some of the boys came from situations where opportunities were limited, the training sessions offered them a more productive routine. The group supports them and guides them toward opportunities to use their talents for self-improvement.
“We have not looked for a sponsor, so we do this out of pocket. We pay for their transport, and we pay for the league fees. We have a kid who has represented Kenya in basketball under 18. We have another kid who has gotten a scholarship because he is good,” he explains.
The initiative extends beyond the court, as the boys often need help navigating decisions about their next steps. As Eugine notes, these outcomes show what consistent support can do for young people who would otherwise be left to navigate difficult environments alone.
But what moves Eugine most is the idea that the initiative could shift the trajectory of so many lives. While none of it was planned, the results have strengthened the group’s commitment to keep the project alive. The initiative has become a reminder that impact often begins with a simple decision to pay attention. Eugine hopes to continue the work for as long as possible and dreams of one day scaling it with proper sponsorship.
“What we started off as a small thing so that these kids could also come and help us win is actually impacting lives. We did not think of the end game. This is the kind of impact that is currently happening. They have actually gone places,” he says.
