KBF Premier League

The KBF Premier League, also known as the KBF National Basketball Classic League, is the premier basketball league for clubs in Kenya. The league currently consist out of twelve teams. The most successful team in the history of the league is KPA with nine national championships.

KBF Premier League

Organising body	Kenyan Basketball Federation
Founded	1987
First season	1987
Country	Kenya
Number of teams	12
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	KBF Division 1
International cup(s)	Basketball Africa League (BAL)
Current champions	Nairobi City Thunder (1st title) (2023–24)
Most championships	KPA (9 titles)
2023–24 KBF Premier League

The champions of the KBF Premier League are eligible to play in the qualifying rounds of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

The league was established in 1987 and has been won by seven different clubs since then.^[1]

Current teams

The following were the twelve teams for the 2024 season:^[2]

• ABSA Bank
• ANU Wolfpack
• Eldonets
• Equity Dumas
• KPA
• Kenyatta University Pirates
• Nairobi City Thunder
• Strathmore Blades
• Ulinzi Warriors
• Umoja
• USIU Tigers
• University of Nairobi Terrorists

List of champions

• 1987: KPA
• 1988: Barclays Eagles
• 1989: Posta
• 1990: KPA
• 1991: KPA
• 1992: Posta
• 1993: Posta
• 1994: Co-op Bank
• 1995: Co-op Bank
• 1996: Co-op Bank
• 1997: Co-op Bank
• 1999: Ulinzi Warriors
• 2000: NSSF Stars
• 2001: KCB Lions
• 2002: Ulinzi Warriors
• 2003: Ulinzi Warriors
• 2004: Ulinzi Warriors
• 2005: Ulinzi Warriors
• 2006: Ulinzi Warriors
• 2007: KCB Lions
• 2008: KCB Lions
• 2009: KCB Lions
• 2010: Co-op Bank
• 2011: Co-op Bank
• 2012: Co-op Bank
• 2014: KPA
• 2015: Ulinzi Warriors
• 2016: KPA
• 2017: KPA
• 2018: KPA
• 2019: Ulinzi Warriors
• 2022: KPA
• 2023: KPA
• 2024: Nairobi City Thunder

Performance by club

Club	Winners	Runners-up	Years won	Years runner-up
KPA	9	2	1987, 1990, 1991, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023	2009, 2024
Ulinzi Warriors	8	3	1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2019	2014, 2018, 2022
Co-op Bank	7	1	1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2010, 2011, 2012	2016
KCB Lions	4	2	2001, 2007, 2008, 2009	2010, 2011
Posta	3	—	1989, 1992, 1993	—
Nairobi City Thunder	1	1	2024	2019
Barclays Eagles	1	—	1988	—
NSSF Stars	1	—	2000	—
USIU Tigers	—	2	—	2012, 2015
Blades	—	1	—	2017
Equity Dumas	—	1	—	2023

Finals (2009–present)

Season	Champions	Runners-up	Finals score	Ref.
2009	KCB Lions (4)	KPA	2–0
2010	Co-op Bank (4)	KCB Lions
2011	Co-op Bank (5)	KCB Lions
2012	Co-op Bank (6)	USIU Tigers	3–0
2014	KPA (4)	Ulinzi Warriors	3–1
2015	Ulinzi Warriors (7)	USIU Tigers	3–0
2016	KPA (5)	Co-op Bank	3–1
2017	KPA (6)	Blades	3–0
2018	KPA (7)	Ulinzi Warriors	3–0
2019	Ulinzi Warriors (8)	Nairobi City Thunder	3–1
2021–22	KPA (8)	Ulinzi Warriors	3–2	[3]
2023	KPA (9)	Equity Dumas	3–1	[4]
2023–24	Nairobi City Thunder	KPA	3–0	[5]

Individual awards

Most Valuable Player

• 2021–22: Kennedy Wachira (KPA)^[3]
• 2022-23: Eugene Adera (KPA)^[3]
• 2023–24: Albert Odero (Nairobi City Thunder)^[6]

Playoffs MVP

• 2023–24: Griffin Ligare (Nairobi City Thunder)^[7]