Telecom Safaricom To Sponsor Kenya Rugby Union's Safari Sevens Tournament

Telecom Safaricom announced it will sponsor the 20th edition of the Safari Sevens tournament to be held at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani from Oct. 2-4. The announcement comes five months after Safaricom withdrew its sponsorship of rugby following allegations of corruption and fraud within Kenya Rugby Union, and barely a month after the company -- alongside fellow sponsors Kenya Airways and Bamburi -- agreed to resume talks with KRU under stringent conditions. Safaricom Dir of Consumer Business Sylvia Mulinge said, "We have reviewed the steps taken by KRU to address the issues we raised when we withdrew our sponsorship in April, and are confident in the progress we are seeing." The sponsorship, however, does not extend to the '16 edition of the National Sevens Circuit or Safari Sevens Tournament, with Safaricom adopting a cautious approach toward full sponsorship of the circuit until it is fully satisfied with KRU's remedial measures (KRU).