Lupita Nyong'o joins Bien, Chiki Kuruka as investors in basketball club Nairobi City Thunder

Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o has joined musician Bien-Aime Baraza and his wife Chiki Kuruka as investors in Nairobi City Thunder.

Lupita becomes the latest high-profile name to back the basketball club.

The A-list actress, famed for films including 12 Years a Slave and Black Panther announced her role in a joint Instagram post with the club.

Rocking a Nairobi City Thunder branded bomber jacket, she proudly stated her recent investment.

She also expressed excitement ahead of the start of the Kenya National Basketball League Finals.

Her announcement comes shortly after former Sauti Sol star Bien and his wife Chiki Kuruka joined the club's ownership group, moving from fans of the team to official club ambassadors and equity investors.

Bien shared his own excitement on social media following the move.

Nairobi City Thunder confirmed the partnership, welcoming Bien as both a brand ambassador and shareholder in the franchise.

The club has been on a historic run in recent years.

Nairobi City Thunder became the first Kenyan basketball team to qualify for the Basketball Africa League in late 2024, a milestone achieved after a 72-62 victory over Uganda's City Oilers at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.

The team went on to secure back-to-back BAL qualifications by winning the East Division Elite 16, defeating South Africa's Johannesburg Giants 94-84 in the Elite 16 final in Nairobi, securing their spot in the 2026 BAL season.

Domestically, Nairobi City Thunder have also claimed multiple Kenyan Basketball Federation Premier League titles, with unbeaten seasons under head coach Bradley Ibs.

With Lupita Nyong'o, Bien and Chiki Kuruka now part of the ownership group, the club's growing star power looks set to raise its profile even further, both on and off the court.