Kenya Rugby Sevens team in 2009

During the 2009 IRB sevens season, Kenya reached the semi finals 7 out of 9 tournaments and even reached the finals in Adelaide. Along the way they shocked world beaters New Zealand, England and South Africa. At the 2009 World cup Kenya shocked everyone by beating sevens giants, Fiji in the quarterfinals to reach the semis. Collins Injera was top scorer in the IRB series. Humphrey Kayange was noted as one of the best players. Victor Oduor, Ian Simiyu, Lavin Asego, Benedict Nyambu, Sydney Ashioya and others all played pivotal roles.

The Kenya women‘s volleyball team has been a model of consistency. For more than a decade they have maintained their position as the best team on the continent despite several logistical and financial problems. Additionally, they have represented the continent at the Olympics and the World Championships. Among the movers and shakers in the 1980s and 1990s were Maragaret Indakhala, Doris Wefwafwa, Ann Wekhomba, Hellen Elele The new millenium edition had players like Violet Baraza, Dorcas Ndasaba and Mercy Moim among many others.

Kenyans in action during the world cup qualifiers at Kasarani.

Another recent success story is the Kenya Men’s cricket team who surprised many with their meteoric rise from obscurity to test status. They have recorded surprise wins over traditional giants such as India and the West Indies while earning rave reviews following their creditable performance at the Cricket world cup. Some of the stars in this team include Tom Tikolo, Maurice Odumbe, Kennedy Otieno and Hitesh Modi. In 2003, Kenya surprised the world when they progressed to the Semi Finals of the cricket world cup, finishing ahead of the likes of South Africa, West Indies and England.

Kenyans celebrate their victory over India at the 2001 Triangle series in South Africa.

Rugby fans will never forget that Mean Machine team that streamrolled its way to an unprecedented Kenya cup win while winning several other local tournaments, and drawing record crowds. They entertained fans with an exhilarating display of running rugby while leaving usually tough opponents such as Nondies and Harlequins to bite the dust. That squad was led by none other than the legendary Edward Rombo and included Musalia Kihamba, the late Ken Kanyi, Martin Ndeda, Edwin Obuya, Oliver Khabure and John Moore Ohaga.

The 1987/88 Hit squad

The Mens National Hockey team of the 70s and Mid to late 80s

In the mid to late eighties. Kenya was ranked among the worlds best hockey teams and was by far the best team in Africa. They regularly represented the country in such prestigious tornaments as the World championships, The Indira Gandhi Cup and the Olympics. Among the stalwarts in that team were Peter Akatsa, Chris Otambo, Simi Goyal, Paul Omany, Lucas Alubaha and Mike Omondi among others. Going back in the further to the 1970s, Kenya was ranked amongst the top 5 nations in the world.

In large part due to disorganization, Kenya hockey is not what it once was.

That was the year when Harambee stars a, as Kenya’s national football team is popularly known , surprised everyone including themselves by reaching the finals of the All Africa games before losing in a heart breaking final to Egypt. On the way to the final , they beat Tunisia 2-1 drew 3-3 with Cameroun, beat Madagascar 2-1 , and beat Malawi in a heart stopping penalty shootout. The standouts from that team included David Ochieng in goal, Mickey Weche, Austin Oduor, Charles Otieno, Hassan Juma, Ambrose Ayoyi, Wilberforce Mulamba , Wycliff Anyangu and Sammy Onyango. The coach was none other than flambuoyant German Reinhard Fabisch.

The 1972 4*400m Relay team

That team consisting of Charles Asati, Robert Ouko, Julius Sang and Hezekiah Nyamau, surprised everyone when they won the men’s 4 * 400m gold medal at the 1972 Olympics, beating even the fancied American team. Four years earlier, at the Mexico Olympics, The Kenya 4 * 400 metres quartet comprising (Daniel Rudisha,Matesi Nyamau, Naftali Bon, Charles Asati had won the silver medal only for the European and North American journalists and officials to come up with excuses like "The altitude favored the Kenyans".