Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), through its premium whisky brand Johnnie Walker, has announced a Ksh40 million sponsorship for the 2025 Magical Kenya Open.
As the Official Alcohol Beverage Partner, Johnnie Walker will enhance the tournament experience with premium hospitality, entertainment at the Tournament Village, and exclusive brand engagements.
The sponsorship will also support Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) in organizing logistics and delivering a world-class event.
The 56th edition of the Magical Kenya Open, a key stop on the DP World Tour, will take place from February 20–23, 2025, at the par-71 Muthaiga Golf Club.
It will be preceded by a Pro-Am tournament on February 19.
The event will feature 144 professional golfers competing for a prize purse of $2.5 million (approx. KES 320 million), reaffirming its status as one of Africa’s premier golf tournaments.
Speaking at the sponsorship announcement at Kenya Railway Golf Club, KBL Managing Director Mark Ocitti expressed pride in the company’s continued support:
“We are proud to renew our partnership with the Magical Kenya Open through our premium spirit brand, Johnnie Walker. As a long-standing supporter of golf in Kenya, we are committed to providing fans with a bespoke and memorable experience. We look forward to bringing excitement to the Tournament Village and delivering an unforgettable event,” he said.
KOGL Tournament Director Patrick Obath welcomed KBL’s sponsorship, emphasizing its importance in ensuring the tournament’s success:
“We are delighted to have KBL renew its partnership as the Official Alcohol Beverage Sponsor. This sponsorship plays a vital role in meeting key obligations, including event logistics and prize-giving,” he said.
He added, “The Magical Kenya Open is instrumental in positioning Kenya as a premier international tourism and sporting destination. We encourage fans to turn up in large numbers to support their favorites and showcase our country’s hospitality.”
Kenya will field eight professional golfers who secured their spots through qualifiers organized by the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK).
They include Njoroge Kibugu, Greg Snow, David Wakhu, Samuel Njoroge, Dismas Indiza, Mohit Mediratta, Riz Charania, and Edwin Mudanyi.
The tournament will also feature top Kenyan amateur golfers, led by Michael Karanga, the 2024 Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) Champion, and John Lejirma, the KAGC Runner-Up.
Others include Strokeplay Champion William Odek, Uganda’s 2024 Matchplay Champion Michael Alunga, Adel Balala, and Shashwat Harish, the top junior qualifier from the NCBA Kenya Invitational 2025 held in January.