Africa 24 Media Photography

Rugby in Kenya has a long and illustrious history. Started by settlers during the colonial era, the game was a preserve of the colonial masters hence participation was restricted to the whites only. The first generation of African players started playing only after independence in 1960s, doing the groundwork and preparing the way for the tenacious second and third generations of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s to hoist Kenya’s name up in the rugby arena.

The growing interest in the game led to the formation of clubs which participated in the Kenya cup, with white clubs such as Kenya Harlequins, Nondescripts, Impala and Western Kenya/Oribis being seasonal participants. However, a lot has changed. The current fourth generation of rugby players consist of Kenyans, even in the previously white-dominated clubs like Impala. Under the management of Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU), the sports governing body in Kenya, club rugby has become a favourite for most fans. Teams like Kenya Harlequins, Mwamba, Nondescripts, KCB, Nakuru, Impala, among others have lit the rugby game in Kenya. Impala in particular underlines Kenya’s success story. Having risen from the dusts of obscurity and shadows of impotent, the team has passed over the hurdles and now dominates the local rugby scene, having kicked off their run by winning the inaugural Kenya cup in 1970. They have gone on to win the title five times, from 2000-2002, in 2004 and 2009. 2009 in particular proved to be a bountiful year for the Red shirts as they bagged a hat-trick of titles, winning the Kenya Cup, the Floodlit event and the Supremacy Cup. The Impala grounds-based team outclassed KCB (Kenya Commercial Bank) 34-14 to win the 2009 edition of Impala Floodlit. The gazelles did the trick again against the bankers, winning the 2010 tournament 17-13 in a breathtaking clash to record their sixth floodlit success. Impala’s previous Floodlit wins came in back-to-back successes in 1999 to 2001, while they also oozed above their opponents in 2003 and 2009. The club is headed by Chairman of Resolution Health East Africa, Peter Nduati, who played the lock position for the gazelles from 1989 till he retired in 2004. Nduati has provided steady sponsorship for his former club, even going to the extent of paying school fees for deserving players, buying kits for the team or providing gainful employment to qualified players. The club has also nurtured and produced top players who have proceeded to shine for Kenya in the international rugby arena. Among them is Innocent Simiyu and Brian Nyikuli who are one of Kenya’s flourishing participants in the IRB sevens series. Among the notable players in Impala club include; Nzioka Muema, Lawrence Terer, David Abenga, Kevin Umbuge, Duncan Ekasi, Michael Mugo, Kevin Gisore, Vincent Mose among others. Impala club’s fortunes can only get better. The team plans to be the most dominant side in regional tournament for the next five years and beyond. And why not? The club’s policy of recruiting fresh blood into their ranks and improving the depth of players in the squad can only serve to bring glory and more glory for the gazelles in the foreseeable future..

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