Muthaiga Golf Club’s Njoroge Kibugu at a recent tournament at Nyali Golf and Country Club ahead of Kenya’s Rwanda Open challenge. (Photo: standardmedia.co.ke)
Kenya’s professionals and leading amateurs face a 156-player field in Kigali as the inaugural Rwanda Open offers Sh20 million in prize money.
Njoroge Kibugu heads a 15-player Kenyan contingent competing for a share of Sh20 million in prize money at the inaugural Rwanda Open in Kigali, where regional golfers will face a sizeable Sunshine Tour field.
According to The Standard, the tournament runs until Sunday and brings together 29 Sunshine Development Tour-East players and 127 Sunshine Tour professionals. The 156 competitors will contest 72 holes on a par-72 course, with the top 50 and ties progressing after the opening 36 holes.
Kenya’s team combines established professionals, players with Sunshine Tour membership and two leading amateurs, giving the country a broad presence in the field.
Kibugu joins experienced Kenyan challengers
Kibugu, 22, represents Muthaiga Golf Club and arrives after being the only Kenyan to make the cut at this year’s Magical Kenya Open. The Standard reported his six-under performance at that event, placing him among the Kenyan players to watch in Rwanda.
He is joined by Kakamega Sports Club veteran Dismas Indiza, who secured his Sunshine Tour card following victory at Ruiru and a haul of 753 Order of Merit points. Indiza brings extensive competitive experience to a tournament played over Kigali’s hilly terrain.
Former Safari Tour champion Greg Snow, also of Muthaiga, is another Kenyan holding full Sunshine Tour membership. His length off the tee could be an asset on the par-fives, although accuracy will remain important across the four rounds.
Mutahi Kibugu, Njoroge’s elder brother, is also in the field, alongside David Wakhu, who will be looking to improve on what the source described as a difficult 2025 season.
Amateurs add depth to the squad
Daniel Nduva, CJ Wangai, Adel Balala, Sammy Mulama, Samuel Njoroge and Taimur Malik add further depth to Kenya’s entry. All have won on the local circuit, according to The Standard, and will first need to negotiate the halfway cut to remain in contention through the weekend.
Leading Kenyan amateurs John Lejirma and Michael Karanga will also test themselves against the professionals. Their participation gives them an opportunity to measure their games against both regional opponents and the larger Sunshine Tour contingent.
Justus Madoya, another former Safari Tour champion, and Nelson Mudanyi complete the 15-player Kenyan line-up.
Regional rivals pose a strong challenge
Among the regional contenders is Rwanda’s Celestine Nsanzuwera, who sits second on the Order of Merit with two victories. One of those wins came in Kigali, giving the home player experience of winning in the host city.
Uganda’s Ronald Rugumayo is another player to watch. He won the recent Pearl of Africa Series and opened the Uganda Professionals Open with a three-under-par 69 to take the lead. The Standard reported that he had confirmed Kigali as his next tournament destination.
The Rwanda event also forms part of a wider opportunity for East African golfers. The East Africa Swing offers 10 ranking tournaments and three tour cards, creating a route for players seeking to move beyond domestic competition.
For the Kenyan contingent, Kigali presents both an immediate challenge for prize money and a chance to compete in a field dominated by Sunshine Tour professionals.
