Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has officially taken over Nairobi United Football Club, a team competing in the FKF National Super League (NSL), from media mogul Samwel Born Maina. The acquisition, facilitated through the Sakaja Foundation, was formally announced during a ceremony at City Hall.
Sakaja’s takeover signals a new era for the club, which finished fourth in last season’s NSL, narrowly missing out on promotion to the FKF Premier League. Under Sakaja’s leadership, Nairobi United is set for a major transformation, including changes to its roster, coaching staff, and management.
“Nairobi United has immense potential, and we are committed to making it a team that can compete with the best in the country,” Sakaja stated at the event, outlining his ambitions for the club’s future.
Nairobi United was founded in 2018 as a training team for employees of 360 Media Relations and was officially registered as a football club in 2019. The team advanced from the Nairobi Regional League to the NSL under the financial backing of Born Maina, who had been funding the club’s operations with a focus on rehabilitating youth from underprivileged areas such as Mathare and Korogocho.
Players were paid 1,000 KSh per training session and 1,500 KSh per match, while the club’s weekly running costs stood at around 300,000 KSh.
While Sakaja takes control, Born Maina will take a back-end role, continuing his commitment to the club.
In a statement on social media, Nairobi United celebrated the partnership: “Exciting times ahead! A remarkable figure has stepped into our midst, and we’re feeling the wave of positivity! Let’s embrace the change and work towards a brighter tomorrow!”
With Sakaja’s leadership, the club is expected to become a more competitive force in Kenyan football, poised for future success in the national league.
