The Kenya Open Golf Championship was started in 1967. The idea of the championship originated from Peter Thompson, an Australian Golfer, and then from a former Kenya Golf Union President, "Champ" Sullivan. The event takes place at the Muthaiga Golf Club, home of the Kenya Golf Union with the exception of 1968 when the event was held at Karen Country Club and in 1976 when the competition was not played.

The Kenya Open is the oldest Championship on the African Leg of the P.G.A European Challenge Tour.

The events organisation is the sole responsibility of the Kenya Golf Union. In the past the Union contracted out the organisation to professional organisations mainly between 1978 and 1983 after which a single sponsor Benson & Hedges provided the bulk of the financing and as a result the Championship was labelled the Benson and Hedges Kenya Open. In 1984 the principle sponsor was B.A.T (K)Ltd. and was labelled the "555" Kenya Open. From 1991 the event was renamed the Standard Chartered Kenya Open. The bank was the sponsor of the Championship.

After 1993 the organisation of the Kenya Open was turned over to Kenya Open Golf Limited, an independent liability company formed in 1992 by the Kenya Golf Union. The company's sole purpose is to organise the Kenya Open Golf Championship on a "permanent and Professional basis". The Union has 48 shares and the country's ten major golf clubs are allocated 40 shares. The remaining 12 shares are available for allocation to clubs which reach the level of having 150 male, golf playing, full members.

There is no distribution of profits by the company, but surpluses are transferable to the Kenya Golf Union for benefits of golf in Kenya. In 1993 multiple sponsorship prevailed, with Standard Chartered Bank being the principle sponsor. Lonrho Motors took over the sponsorship during the Kenya Open's 30th anniversary in 1997 and this year, Kenya Breweries through their leading beer brand - Tusker are the major sponsors.They are joined by Kenya Postel Directories, Sigona Golf Club and Simba Colt Motors.

Past Championships