This archive report was first published on 11 June 2020.
On June 11, 2020, Kenya Open Golf Limited announced a financial aid scheme to support 54 Safari Tour members who have been left without income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 54 members, comprising 39 Kenyans, 10 Ugandans, two Nigerians, and one each from Senegal, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe, participated in 11 tournaments between August 2019 and February 2020.
The financial aid, drawn from entry and membership fees collected during the 2019-2020 season, will be shared among the 54 members, many of whom are currently not earning any income.
“Many of our professional golfers have been adversely affected by the current restrictions and have suffered a lot due to loss of income,” said Peter Kanyago, chairman of Kenya Open Golf Limited. “We are giving them a small token to help take some sting out of these harsh and uncertain times that we currently find ourselves in.”
John Wangai, Captain of the professional golfers of Kenya, welcomed the gesture, saying it came at a critical time for the golfers.
“This is the best thing that has happened to professional golfers since the postponement of the Magical Kenya Open in March,” Wangai said. “On behalf of the Safari Tour family, I would like to thank the board of Kenya Open Golf Limited for coming to our aid at our hour of need.”
The Kenya Open Golf Limited will consult with the Government of Kenya to find the safest way to commence the 2020-2021 Safari Tour.
