Changing the Mental Health Game with Splinters Basketball Nairobi

About three months ago, I started a community called Splinters Basketball Nairobi at Olive Crescent International School, located along Kolobot Drive, opposite Statehouse Girls. The school, founded by the inspirational Sheikh Said Rageah, has become a beacon of learning and community development in the heart of Nairobi. Every weekend, this venue transforms into a safe, vibrant space where 30+ men—sons, fathers, uncles, and brothers—gather not just to play basketball, but to heal, grow, and connect.

Led by Giles Leshan, founder of Mkonodigital, this initiative goes beyond the court. It’s a movement aimed at changing the narrative around men’s mental health in Nairobi. For many of us grinding through 9-to-5s Monday to Friday, Splinters Basketball Nairobi has become our weekend therapy. From age 16 to 40+, members come from diverse backgrounds—businessmen, creatives, professionals—united by a love for basketball and a need for connection.

The court becomes more than a game—it’s a circle of encouragement. We talk, joke, share life stories, and exchange uplifting messages. We strengthen one another with words, passes, and presence. This is not just basketball; it’s brotherhood.

At the same time, we’re nurturing young talent and creating a generational ripple. Youths get to learn, grow, and model healthy social and emotional behavior in a safe environment. Our goal with Splinters Basketball Nairobi is to create a lasting community that builds, restores, and energizes men, while mentoring the next generation.

We believe men’s mental health is as simple as having a supportive community. One that listens, plays, heals, and grows together. If you’re looking for something that balances play with purpose, we invite you to be part of this movement.

Where to play Basketball in Nairobi, Join Splinters Basketball Nairobi and curate your energy with high vibrations that uplift and transform. Your tribe is waiting.

Splinters Basketball Nairobi at Olive Cresent International school