William Ruto meeting with Shaquille O’Neal in Atlanta

• Ruto is on a four-day state visit to the US
• The Kenyan president and his entourage touched down at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday
• Shaquille O’Neal’s height clearly captivated the President

Kenyan President William Ruto meeting with Shaquille O’Neal in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday has sparked a debate among Kenyans.

Ruto is on a four-day state visit to the US. The Kenyan president and his entourage touched down at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday at 5 pm local time (10:30 am) American time.  US President Joe Biden invited Ruto for the state visit.

He [Ruto] kicked off his American tour at the Carter Center where he gave a talk about anti-corruption efforts and African democracy values. Carter Center was established by James Earl Carter Jr. who served as America’s 39^th president between 1977 and 1981. The Democrat Party-affiliated politician was passionate about democracy and the center is built on this foundation.

President William Ruto Meeting With Shaquille O’Neal

Shortly after his talk at Carter Center, Ruto headed to Martin Luther King Jnr National Historical Park based in Atlanta where met the NBA legend. Shaquille O’Neal’s height clearly captivated the President, as his presence eclipsed that of everyone else in attendance. Clearly taken aback by Shaq’s height, Ruto put his hand on the athlete’s shoulder and enthusiastically shook his hand.

Faith Kipyegon with President William Ruto. Photo/William Samoei Ruto

For a brief moment, the president looked up at the former NBA champion with a smile and hearty laughter. US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman and First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto looked on all smiles as Ruto engaged O’Neal. It is not clear what they talked about though.

Is Ruto Supporting Basketball in Kenya?

President William Ruto meeting with Shaquille O’Neal comes on the backdrop of his meeting with NBA officials at State House Nairobi in November 2023. Ron Harper, a five-time NBA star, NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams and retired basketball player Michael Finley had a meeting with the Kenyan premier. He stated that America’s National Basketball Association (NBA) committed to establishing grassroots initiatives that would develop talent and advance basketball in Kenya.

The meeting with the NBA legends in Nairobi was a result of a Memorandum of Understanding Kenya signed in  August 2023. Sports CS Ababu Namwamba officiated the signing in New York.

Later in November 2023, NBA Office Nairobi opened its doors in Africa. Among his promises was launching Junior NBA clinics with a target of recruiting 70 girls and boys. The Kenyan president declared that the opening of the NBA Africa Nairobi office was a significant step towards a better future for young people.

“Professional sports can change the lives of the youth,” said Ruto.

What Does NBA Africa Office in Nairobi Do?

The NBA office in Nairobi oversees the organization’s activities in Kenya and East Africa. Its scope of work includes developing and maintaining basketball programs, and training coaches and officials. However, its primary goal is to fund programs like NBA Academy Africa and NBA Jr. NBA to encourage the expansion of basketball programs across the region.

President William Ruto enjoys a light moment with NBA legends in State House Nairobi. Photo/William Samoei Ruto PhD/X

One important area it is working on is improving coaching and refereeing standards through focused training. Furthermore, the office uses other techniques, like social media, to increase the popularity of NBA games among Kenyan fans. In addition, the NBA Jr. NBA program in Kenya has had a significant influence on the growth of young basketball players.

Recognized worldwide, this program teaches boys and girls ages 6-14 the fundamentals of basketball. It was brought to Kenya in 2021, and its quick influence is seen in the improvements noted in the youth basketball scene there. It works in conjunction with the Kenyan Basketball Federation (KBF) by choosing schools to participate in KBF.

Thus, NBA programs via the Nairobi office aspire to broaden the horizons of Kenyan basketball players by creating more avenues for them to pursue professional careers. Beyond the immediate impact, there’s a long-term vision to inspire the upcoming generation of Kenyan basketball enthusiasts.

Coupled with a commitment to bolstering basketball infrastructure at the grassroots level; there is a lot of construction of basketball courts in local communities across Kenya that will happen.