Celebrated coach Phillip Mukui was on Saturday laid to rest, leaving behind a long trail of success stories in Kenyan soccer.
Until his passing on June 3rd, Mwalimu Mukui served as advisor, Strategy and Liaison Officer in the Ministry of Devolution supporting Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa’s development agenda.
Mwalimu Mukui will be remembered by many for guiding western Kenyan schools to glory in soccer where he helped transform hundreds of Kenyan soccer players who called him Papa.
In the mid 90’s, Kenya’s football success story mostly revolved around Western Kenya with Kakamega High school, Musingu Boys, Chesamis, and Sirakaru dominating the regional games.
His teaching journey stretched beyond three decades where he started off as an Economics and Accounting teacher in 1986 but he was mostly remembered for identifying, nurturing and pushing raw talents to achieve elite status in the top leagues of Kenyan soccer.
In the 90’s, behind the success story of the famous sports in western Kenya were three key figures in the region namely the late Chris Makokha then the soccer guru at Kakamega High School, Mr. Shivachi the man behind the rise of Musingu High School and Papa Phillip Mukui, a thorough youth development coach behind the success story of the then golden Chesamis boys, Bisunu Boys, Sirakaru boys and Western Copa Coca-Cola youth teams.
Sadly, Mr. Mukui silently passed on leaving behind a rich but uncelebrated legacy as a pivot responsible for the development of many soccer talents in the country.
Mukui died after a long painful battle with cancer that saw him travel the world in search of medical treatment including his recent trips to India.
He also died with a bullet that was lodged in his chest for more than 13 years after being shot by unknown assailants back in 2005.