Kenya has made a name for herself in the international rugby scene, becoming a big player in recent years.
The biggest moment in the history of the game came in 2016 when Kenya 7s team beat Fiji to lift their first World Series title in Singapore.
In the same tournament, Collins Injera’s name was inked in the books of history, after he became the highest top scorer, breaking Argentina’s Santiago Gomez, who had 203 tries.
However, 2017 will go down as the worst year for many rugby lovers in the country. It has been a frustrating year for clubs, family, and friends.
From accidents to medical reasons, the country has mourned deaths of promising rugby players who entertained lovers of the game.
We celebrate the departed stars who helped place the country in world rugby map, and whom their legacies live on.
1. Sylvester Ogeto Gecheo
The promising player who played for Nondies Rugby Football Club died as he played for his club in a Kenya Cup Tournament against Strathmore Leos.
He is said to have damaged his spinal cord when a disc in his neck slipped as he tackled during the match.Ogeto, fondly known as OG by his teammates later died at the Agha Khan Hospital while undergoing treatment.
He was a sixth born in a family of five brothers and one sister, a first-year Engineering student at the University of Nairobi.
Before joining the University of Nairobi, he schooled at Maseno School, where he captained the rugby team. Many described him as an incredibly talented player who could have gone to be a wild champion.
2. Victor Wayodi
Barely a week after Nondies’ Sylvester Ogeto died Mwamba RFC scrum-half Victor Wayodi died from cardiac arrest after collapsing during a Kenya Cup tie against Top Fry Nakuru RFC.
The 24-year-old scrum-half passed on while receiving treatment at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital in Nairobi. Wayodi came through the ranks of Maseno School team, after joining the team in his first year at the school, and just like Ogeto, he captained the team to the national secondary school games in 2011.
He played as a halfback, particularly scrumhalf and his dream was to play in Vodacom Super Rugby as well feature in the world XV's squad.
He studied BSc Entrepreneurship at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture.
3. Andrew Wekesa
The Kenya rugby fraternity was once again in mourning after former Kenyan Rugby international player and Homeboyz RFC forward Andrew Wekesa was brutally murdered in Mlolongo.
Reports indicated that Wekesa had an altercation with an unknown group before he was stabbed in the chest. He was on his way to his home in Kitengela when he met his untimely death.
He joined Homeboyz in 2011, after clearing his high school, and had a short stint at Impala. He also played for Kenya under 19s, representing the country at the C.A.R. games.
The 25-year-old played for JKUAT Cougars and attended Kakamega Boys High School.
4. James Kilonzo
In July, twenty-two-year-old James Kilonzo was gunned down in Kasarani area by suspected thugs. The thugs, however, did not steal anything from the player, who later died at the St Francis Community Hospital while undergoing treatment.
The rising star, who was named man of the tournament when KCB visited South Africa early July was destined for big things in the game.His death caused an uproar in the Kasarani area, with residents demonstrating and calling for action.
He previously played for Catholic Monks; playing as a Centre and Winger. He went to Masinga Boys High School.
5. Mike Okombe
Kenyans were shocked in early November when news that the Top Fry Nakuru RFC’s player had died. Okombe was stabbed by his girlfriend, 37-year-old Maryanne Mumbi under unclear circumstances during a birthday party.
The 27-year-old flanker debuted for Kenya 15 in June 23rd and went on to play 17 times for the Kenyan team. He attended Musingu High School, leading the school to the 15s title in 2007 at the National Secondary School games.
Key moments in his career included being in the team that beat Namibia in 2014, and historic wins against Tunisia, Portugal, and Spain in 2015.He scored his last try for Kenya in their 48-10 win against Uganda on 4th June 2016.
He was set to join Kabras Sugar in the new season.