Court of Appeal Dismisses Bid to Reopen SportPesa Dispute

The Kenyan Court of Appeal has dismissed an application by Paul Ndung’u seeking to reopen a concluded legal dispute over the SportPesa brand, bringing a decisive end to the long-running case.

In a ruling delivered by a three-judge bench, the appellate court rejected Mr Ndung’u’s application in its entirety, finding it had “no merit” and awarding costs to Milestone Games.

The decision marks the second recent legal setback for Mr Ndung’u in disputes involving SportPesa. In November 2025, the High Court of England and Wales similarly dismissed a claim he had filed against the company and its leadership, finding no substance in the case.

Reacting to the ruling, SportPesa Chief Executive Officer Ronald Karauri welcomed the outcome, describing it as a long-awaited conclusion to prolonged legal challenges.

“The court’s decision to reject this baseless bid to reopen a settled case brings this matter to a welcomed conclusion. For years, we have faced a pattern of vexatious litigation and media manipulation. Now, we are vindicated in both Kenya and England, with a KSh 374 million costs order in our favor,” he said.

Karauri added that the ruling provides the legal certainty needed for the company to focus on its growth strategy and market position.

“This victory provides the legal certainty required to accelerate our position in the market. SportPesa is no longer looking back. Our focus remains on the ‘SportPesa Effect’ — investing in our communities, building infrastructure, supporting our athletes, and delivering on our KSh 1.12 billion commitment to Kenyan sport,” he said.

The company also reaffirmed its commitment to sports development, announcing a KSh 120 million multi-sport sponsorship initiative targeting boxing, rugby and rallying in Kenya. The programme is expected to support athletes at various levels while strengthening local sporting ecosystems through sustained funding.

“As we move forward, we remain focused on investing in Kenyan sport, including our recent commitments to rugby, rally, boxing and the Magical Kenya Open. Supporting sport remains central to who we are as a brand,” Karauri added.

With the legal dispute now settled, SportPesa says it is shifting its focus to expanding its impact across Africa’s sports sector, with an emphasis on nurturing talent from grassroots to the international stage.