- Angella Okutoyi launches crowdfunding initiative to support professional career.
- Okutoyi is the reigning African champions and made history in 2022 by becoming first Kenyan to win the Junior Girls Doubles title at Wimbledon.
- She is recently hit a career-high rankings of 414 in Singles and 223 in Doubles after winning 4 titles in December 2025.
Kenya’s tennis ace Angella Okutoyi has been left with no option but to launch a crowdfunding initiative to support her dreams of turning professional due to persistent struggles in nailing a sponsor.
In a social media post on Monday, 9 February 2026, Okutoyi, who is also the reigning African champion, revealed she has been forced to fundraise as she plans to turn professional in June once she completes her university education at Auburn University in Alabama, USA.
In a heartfelt message, Okutoyi detailed how turning professional is an expensive affair, leaving her to go down the fundraising option.
ALSO READ: Angella Okutoyi sweeps four titles at ITF World Tour Nairobi W35
Okutoyi launches crowdfunding initiative
“I will be completing my studies at Auburn this year, and plan to go full time on the professional tour from June. And this is why I am on this site.
Professional tennis is a fiercely competitive sport – of the tens of thousands of players who start out with the ambition of making it to the top, only the Top 125 in the world are able to cover their playing costs.
And the journey to the Top 125 is a tough and an expensive one – favouring players from wealthy backgrounds and wealthy nations.
I believe in my ability to get to the top… And I certainly have the determination to do so…
But ability and determination on their own, may not be enough – in order for me to compete on a level playing field with these other girls I will need in the region of US$300,000 (close to Shs40m) per annum – to cover the costs of my coaching team, my travel and accommodation costs to play 25+ tournaments a year across 3 or more continents, my living costs at my training base, and other costs including medical and insurance.
I have a world class coaching team lined up (subject to funding), I have one corporate sponsor behind me, and I am close to securing support from high quality equipment and apparel suppliers, as well as a physio and nutrition team.
But there will remain a funding gap, which I am hoping to fill through this Crowdfunding.
I am looking for supporters who want to join me on my journey, and who want to become a part of Team Angella. All support will be welcome,” she posted.
Interested parties can make the payment via MPesa or the Mchanga link provided in picture below.
