The burly Nairobi City Thunder shooting guard, Derrick Ogechi, is the best basketball player in the country.
He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2026 Kenya Basketball Federation Men’s Premier League, as he guided his team to a third consecutive title, all won with an unbeaten record.
While the 27-year-old won’t celebrate this great achievement yet, it has fueled the urge to propel Nairobi City Thunder to the highest echelons on the continent.
Ogechi now dreams of helping Thunder reach their first knock-out stage of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and then go on and win the prestigious title.
BAL, Africa’s premier club competition, was founded in 2019 by NBA Africa and the International Basketball Federation (Fiba).
Nairobi City Thunder made history as the first Kenyan team ever to qualify for the 2025 BAL Nile Conference after sweeping through the East Division Elite 16 in 2024 unbeaten.
The following year, Thunder again won the East Division Elite 16 unbeaten to qualify for the Kalahari Conference, where they were eliminated in the preliminary stage.
Ogechi, who was part of the two BAL campaigns, feels he is stronger and wiser, as he prepares for next season.
The East Division Elite 16 Road to 2027 BAL will be staged from November 23 to 29 at the Moi International Sports Centre Indoor Arena, Kasarani. This will be the third consecutive time the country is hosting the event.
Thunder Basketball Team player Derrick Ogechi goes for a layup during their training for the Eastern Conference qualifiers of the Basketball Africa League (B.A.L.) on November 20, 2024, at Nyayo National Stadium.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation
He attributed his achievement to his teammates and the technical bench, who trusted in his ability.
“The award surprised me because I thought there were other better players, but I am thankful to God for a good season. It means I did something different,” said Ogechi.
He 6-foot 3-inch player, whose season’s statistics read 268 points scored, 58 rebounds made and 48 assists, said team work commitment to the course had made them excel.
Nairobi City Thunder extended their astonishing unbeaten streak in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Premier League to 90 after completing a 3-0 series sweep against the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) for their third consecutive league title. “Our victories have been the result. It’s what we do in and out of training that manifests itself during matches. We have developed a unique culture at Thunder where we care for each other,” said the American-born Kenyan player.
Ogechi regretted having fallen short at the Conference stage, noting that a lapse in concentration at the crucial last minute cost them dearly early this year.
“Losing by small margins clearly shows how things have been so close at BAL. Little details make the difference. You blink and it's gone,” said Ogechi
Thunder lost their Kalahari Conference opening match to Dar City from Tanzania in the dying minute, 90-85, at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa.
Interestingly, Thunder had not lost to Dar City the two times they met at the East Division Elite 16 played in Kenya.
They did beat Johannesburg Giants (South Africa) 71-65 and RSSB Tigers (Rwanda) 101-92, but losses to Petro de Luanda (Angola) 97-70 and Al Ahly Ly (Libya) 107-80 put paid to any chances of making the quarter-finals.
Interestingly, RSSB Tigers cruised all the way, beating Fath Union Sport (FUS) Rabat of Morocco 193-171 in the quarters and Al Ahly of Egypt 106-97 in the semi-final before stunning Petro de Luanda 90-88 in the final for their maiden BAL title.
Thunder Basketball Team player Derrick Ogechi (left) in action against teammate Eugine Adera during their training for Eastern Conference qualifiers of Basketball Africa League (BAL) on November 20, 2024, at Nyayo National Stadium.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation
It’s against RSSB Tigers, who won the East Division Elite 16, where Ogechi managed a career-best 22 points, including five three-pointers to steer Thunder to victory.
“We lost to Dar City at the buzzer after a lapse in concentration but we have been working hard on how to kill the game,” said Ogechi.
“Derrick is quick and skilled for someone with such a big body. He is built a little more like a rugby player yet he has a lot of quickness and athleticism that offensively works for us,” said Ibs.
“Defensively, Ogechi has sometimes been able to guard players much taller because of his physical strength.”
“As a coach, he is a real luxury to have owing to his extremely high basketball intelligence. He rarely makes mistakes from a decision making perspective. He is a guy you will bring him in at any situation and expect success,” said Ibis.
Though a good shooter, Ibs wants to take Ogechi’s game to another level at the continental competition. “If he can consistently become a 40 per cent three-point shooter, that would be another weapon for him,” said Ibs. “He is willing to put in more work in his craft and as a professional, he will continue to grow.”
Ogechi, known for warming up the changing room with his talkativeness, says he is yet to reach his peak.
“I wanted to be a professional player and emulate (the late Kobe) Bryant. Anyone can say that but in life, you must earn it,” said Ogechi, whose favourite meal is chapati and beans.
“I want to be better than I am now and see how high I can reach and how many people I can inspire to take the game,” said Ogechi. “I don’t want it to be about me but the younger generation that I hope to inspire to play in the NBA.”
Derrick Ogechi poses for a photo during a photoshoot after signing for Nairobi City Thunder.
Photo credit: Pool
Ogechi, who was born to Kenyan parents on December 26, 1998, in Minnesota, the United States of America, juggled between taekwondo, where he graded to second degree black belt, and football, playing as a striker, before he ditched the two sports for basketball at the age of 13.
“I really enjoyed basketball and I really wanted to be like Bryant. Just watching him play fascinated me, “said Ogechi, revealing that it’s his father, Moses Mekenye, a telecommunication engineer, who lured him to basketball.
Bryant, the five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers where he played as a shooting guard and small forward, died in a chopper crash on January 26, 2020 in Calabasas, California, USA.
Ogechi, studied at Woodland Elementary School, Brooklyn High School and Park Centre High School before joining Midland College where he played junior college basketball.
He later joined Midwestern State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Arts and Science and later, a Master Degree in Sports Administration.
Ogechi, who featured in NCAA Division II league, suffered a severe, career-threatening ACL and meniscus tear in his left knee heading into his final year in 2022 at the university.
“I had to stay out for six months without playing and it was tough and stressful not doing what I so loved,” said Ogechi.
After completing college, Ogechi moved to Spain to begin his professional basketball career with Cajasol Coto Córdoba CB, a second division Primera side, where he played in 2023.
After the Spanish season ended, he moved to his motherland, Kenya, joining Nairobi City Thunder in August, 2024.
A year earlier, he had made his international debut with Kenya Morans at the Fiba AfroCan in Luanda, Angola.
Ogechoi noted that it will take great effort the standards of the game in Kenya anywhere near those of the USA and Spain.
“These developed countries have structures and systems from age group to senior level with defined leagues. Players grow through the systems to the professional level,” said Ogechi.
