Uasin Gishu Junior School (boys) and Testimony Junior School (girls) delivered electrifying performances to clinch the M-PESA Jr. NBA Rift Valley regional titles on Sunday at the Uasin Gishu courts in Eldoret.

The boys' final was a nail-biting showdown, with home favourites Uasin Gishu edging out Testimony Junior School from Kesses in a thrilling 13-11 victory. 

Deadlocked at 11-11 with mere seconds on the clock, Daniel Mwangi rose to the occasion, slicing through the defense to sink a clutch, buzzer-beating layup—sending the home crowd into a frenzy and the visitors home heartbroken.

The girls' final was just as intense, with Testimony Junior School outlasting Uasin Gishu in a dramatic 18-17 win. It was a defensive war in the dying moments, as Uasin Gishu’s Mary Tindi and Zawadi Agwanda launched a last-second offensive push, only to be stonewalled by Coach Barry Wycliff’s defensive juggernaut. The home side was left reeling from the narrow defeat, while Testimony erupted in celebration.

“It has been an amazing tournament, giving our young players the chance to compete on a big basketball platform. I am extremely proud, especially having led both of my teams to the finals considering how tough and competitive this tournament was,” said Barry Wycliff, Head Coach of Testimony Junior School.

“We secured the top spot in the girls’ category and finished runners-up in the boys’ division, which is something I am very happy about. The talent we have witnessed here is incredible, and if it’s properly nurtured, I believe Kenya has the potential to become a powerhouse in basketball,” said Barry Wycliff.

Uasin Gishu (Boys) had made it to the finals after seeing off their challengers Open Arm 14-10 in semis finals, while Testimony (Girls) had booked their spot in the finals after edging out their opponents Kipsinende 13-7 in a semi-final clash.

“I believe M-PESA, together with NBA Africa, are doing a fantastic job in supporting and nurturing basketball talent in the country. The level of talent we have witnessed over the past two days is remarkable, especially considering that most of these schools don’t have proper structures in place. It shows that if we start developing these young players early, invest in solid systems, and build partnerships like the one between M-PESA and NBA Africa, we can produce top-tier talent in this country. I am proud to have claimed the boys’ title and finished second in the girls’ contest, which I lost by just one point to Testimony,” said Maurice Ouma, Head Coach, Uasin Gishu Junior School.

The winners from both teams walked away with smartphones and airtime courtesy of Safaricom M-PESA. Each team that participated in the tournament also got a basketball courtesy of the NBA Africa.

Securing third place were Kapkoi Junior School (boys) and AIC Lelmokwo Junior School (girls), who defeated Open Arms and Kipsinende Junior School respectively in the playoff rounds.

“Rift Valley has been a standout region. We have witnessed incredible turnout and impressive skill sets. The future of basketball in Kenya is promising, and with our ongoing partnership with M-PESA, we are committed to uncovering and nurturing talent across every region. Next up is Kisumu, and we expect to see more of great upcoming basketball talents like what we have experienced in the last tournaments,” said Kita Matungulu, NBA Africa Director of Basketball Operations.

The two-day tournament saw 40 teams comprising 450 players from Rift Valley counties take part in the event. Beyond the on-court action, Safaricom integrated financial literacy sessions through M-PESA Go, which saw the young players equipped with essential financial management skills.

With Nairobi, Coast and Rift Valley regions wrapped up, the M-PESA Jr. NBA tournament now heads to Kisumu next weekend, March 22nd – 23rd 2025, at Kenyatta Sports Ground.

Meanwhile, Safaricom has called on parents to instil a culture of saving and investment in their children from an early age, citing the critical role of financial literacy in shaping a financially responsible generation.

Speaking in Eldoret during the M-PESA Jr.NBA Tournament, which also featured a financial literacy training session for young players, Racheal Bosibori, Customer Journey Expert at M-PESA Go highlighted the importance of early financial education.

“It is very important for parents to introduce their children to the principles of saving as early as 10 years old. Today, through the M-PESA Go product, we are fostering financial literacy among young people by equipping them with the knowledge of how to manage money, how to budget, and save,” said Bosibori.

The financial literacy training, organized by M-PESA Go during the regional tournament at Uasin Gishu High School Grounds, benefited over 450 young participants. The initiative aims to empower children with fundamental money management skills, ensuring they grow into financially savvy individuals.