Safaricom in talks to resume rugby sponsorship

Safaricom has resumed talks with the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) over possibility of a new sponsorship deal.

Addressing the media on Thursday, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said the company recognises the needs for sponsorship as a means of growing rugby in the country.

“We have resumed discussion on the sponsorship of Kenya’s rugby with KRU and other key sponsors. We recognise that the game needs continued sponsorship in order to grow,” said Collymore.

As a condition for sponsorship, however, Collymore called for transparency in the expenditure at the Union, further calling on those implicated in corruption allegations to step aside.

“We will work with Kenya Rugby and other sports on a long term sponsorship if there is transparency. We can only work with KRU if people implicated in the forensic audit step aside.”

In April, Safaricom terminated its contract for Kenya Sevens team and the National Sevens Circuit over allegations of corruption at the rugby union.

KRU has been rocked with boardroom wrangles over allegations of financial impropriety and power struggles that led to the resignation of former chairman Mwangi Muthee and two other board members.