Marcel Awori | Head of Commercial and Partnerships at Nairobi City Thunder
Twende Sports has appointed Marcel Awori as Head of Commercial and Partnerships for the company and its basketball club, Nairobi City Thunder. He moves up from Chief of Staff, a role he held for just over a year. Kenya’s top basketball operation now has someone whose only job is bringing in sponsorship revenue, and Awori has opened the season by inviting brands to talk to him.
Awori announced the move via LinkedIn. He mentioned the Chief of Staff role had put him across the whole business, from finalising the club’s partnership strategy to sourcing T-shirts for its latest merchandise drop. He thanked Colin Rasmussen, the founder and CEO of Twende Sports and president of Nairobi City Thunder.
“Partnerships are how sport becomes sustainable here,” Awori wrote. “My focus will be building partnerships that deliver real value for our partners and help make Kenyan basketball a serious commercial product.”
He made a direct pitch to sponsors: “If you’re a brand that wants to be part of what we’re building for the 2026/27 season and beyond, my inbox is open.”
Before joining Twende
Awori played NCAA Division I soccer at Boston University. He also founded B.U.I.L.D Sports Africa, a non-profit that supports grassroots leagues and helps young players find routes into education and scholarships.
Twende Sports Limited bought the Thunder in August 2023. Its founders are Rasmussen, Kooshin Diriye, Stephen Domingo and Sandra Kimokoti. They turned what had been a recreational club into a professional one. In December 2024 the Thunder became the first Kenyan team to qualify for the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and they qualified again for the 2026 edition. Their games are now livestreamed, and the club sells merchandise. Rasmussen has described merch as “both a revenue source and a brand tool.”
Awori’s appointment follows a high-profile investment. In September, Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o announced that she had become an investor in the Thunder. The club confirmed the investment but did not disclose the amount. Nyong’o’s backing makes Awori’s job easier. Brands now get access to one of the most recognisable Kenyans in the world as part of a Thunder partnership.
The Thunder have the profile they need for a sponsorship push
The harder question is how much a brand can actually buy. Home games are at the Nyayo Gymnasium, which seats 2,500, so there is little room for ticketing, hospitality or venue branding. Rasmussen has said the club intends to have its own facilities as soon as possible because the current setup limits it financially and operationally. Until that happens, the club’s commercial offer depends on its BAL exposure, its digital audience and its standing in the community. Awori’s post leans on the community case, which suits that position.
Giving partnerships a full-time owner is a good move for the club at this stage. In a Chief of Staff role, sponsorship competes with everything else, from operations to merchandise orders. A dedicated commercial head can build a proper inventory, price it and manage renewals. Kenyan basketball also competes for brand budgets with football, athletics and rugby sevens, so the Thunder need a sales operation that is as professional as the team.
Recommended for you
