Michael Karanga, a prominent amateur golfer from Ndumberi Golf Club, has earned a coveted spot in the upcoming Magical Kenya Open after his recent triumph at the 104th Kenya Amateur Match Play Championship. This championship, a key event in the Kenya Golf Union’s Kenya Swing, took place from July 24th to 27th, 2025, and featured 78 amateur golfers from around the world.
Karanga expressed his enthusiasm for competing on the DP World Tour, where he aims to improve his world ranking of 68. He stated his belief in his ability to win the Magical Kenya Open and proudly noted he is the first Kenyan golfer to secure a place in this international event.
Hailing from a modest background, Karanga is passionate about making golf accessible to all. He established the Michael Karanga Golf Foundation, which currently provides free golf training to over 500 children aged 7 to 22 from Kiambu constituency during school holidays. The foundation also arranges seminars with professionals to broaden the children’s horizons.
Karanga highlights the positive impact of golf in Ndumberi, noting that the sport has drawn many, especially young men, away from idleness and substance abuse, encouraging productive engagement and even providing financial opportunities.
Despite the growing success of Kenyan golfers internationally, Karanga voiced concern about the lack of government recognition for their achievements, contrasting it with the support given to other sports like athletics. He feels that the perception of golf as an “elite” sport might be hindering this recognition.
Pastor Benson Kamau, a golf trainer, and Coach Lee Njino, Karanga’s own trainer, echoed the call for more government support and emphasized Ndumberi’s rich golfing legacy, which dates back to the first Kenyan golfer, Nginyo Kariuki. Njino, who has mentored Karanga since his early days, is also working to integrate golf into school curricula and encourages parents to let their children play, citing the sport’s ability to instill discipline and open doors.
Beyond golf, the Michael Karanga Foundation is committed to holistic youth development, offering bursaries, school supplies, and uniforms to underprivileged members to ensure they stay in school.
Ndumberi Golf Club continues to be a breeding ground for talent, with other members like Elvis Muigua also achieving significant success, including defending his title at the NCBA Winston Churchill Cup. The club, which has been fostering golfing skills since the 1950s, emphasizes discipline, teamwork, leadership, and perseverance.
As Karanga, who also chairs the club, aptly puts it, “Golf and education go hand in hand.” The foundation’s comprehensive approach aims to create a brighter future for the youth of Kiambu, both on and off the golf course.
