KRU chairman Alexander ‘Sasha’ Mutai has outlined KRU’s plan to bid to host one leg of the HSBC 7s World Series pending the conclusion of the Talanta Sports City construction.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Chairman Alexander “Sasha” Mutai has outlined an ambitious plan to bid for the hosting rights of a leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, contingent on the completion of Talanta Sports City.
This move is part of KRU’s broader vision to establish Kenya as a premier rugby destination and further elevate the country’s standing in the global sevens circuit.
Mutai, who has played a crucial role in the resurgence of Kenya Sevens (Shujaa), emphasized that while securing a World Series leg is the ultimate goal, the immediate priority remains solidifying the team’s status in the league.
Kenya has been dealt a blow in its ambitious multi-billion Talanta stadium project earmarked for AFCON 2027 with audit revealing millions lost.
A key component of this bid is reviving the Safari Sevens tournament to its former glory and positioning it as a testament to Kenya’s capability to host world-class rugby events.
“We have to be ambitious because people said that Shujaa cannot get back into the series within one year, and we did it with good management,” Mutai stated during an appearance on Citizen TV’s Sporty Monday.
Mutai recalled his tenure as chairman of the Safari Sevens organizing committee in 2013 when the tournament drew an impressive 48,000 fans despite the backdrop of the Westgate Mall terror attack.
“On the weekend of the Westgate attack, we still had 48,000 fans attending the event at the stadium. It was the biggest Safari Sevens tournament ever, but the next year, that is when corruption started,” he lamented.
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The Safari Sevens made a return in 2023 after a two-year hiatus, marking one of the first significant steps in KRU’s broader vision under Mutai’s leadership.
The 2023 edition was hosted in Nairobi, while the 2024 tournament took place in Machakos, with plans underway to ensure continued growth and success.
“It takes time to build something, but the brand was there. Safari Sevens was the biggest tournament in Africa, but it was messed up by a lot of people,” Mutai remarked.
Mutai highlighted Kenya’s successful hosting of the 2023 World Rugby U20 Trophy as a key indicator of the country’s capacity to manage international tournaments. He also pointed to Kenya’s passionate rugby fan base, which was on full display at events such as the Perth Sevens, as a crucial asset in their bid.
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Beyond the logistical and infrastructural readiness, Mutai revealed that he and former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba had engaged directly with World Rugby officials in Madrid to express Kenya’s intentions.
“Last year in Madrid, the former minister Ababu Namwamba and I talked to the head of tournaments and competitions in World Rugby and told them about our ambitions because this Talanta Stadium will be complete this year, and we want to bring back the hype,” he explained.
Despite these ambitious plans, Mutai has faced internal resistance from within KRU. A faction of board members, led by honorary secretary Ray Olendo, has called for his removal, citing disagreements over his management decisions, particularly his appointment of the Kenya Sevens coaching staff.
Mutai, however, has remained steadfast in his belief that the current technical team is the right fit for Shujaa.
He appointed Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua as head coach, Louie Kisia as his assistant, Andrew Amonde as the strength and conditioning coach, and Steve Sewe as team manager—an appointment that has fueled tensions within the board.
“The management team that I appointed on 4th August 2023 made Kenya qualify for the Olympics in Zimbabwe within six weeks and got the team back into the World Series,” he asserted.
Mutai’s vision for Kenya Rugby is clear: restore the prestige of Safari Sevens, strengthen Shujaa’s global standing, and bring the HSBC Sevens to Kenyan soil.
With the anticipated completion of Talanta Sports City and continued strategic efforts, the KRU believes that hosting a World Series leg is not just a dream but an achievable reality.
As Kenya continues its resurgence in the rugby sevens world, Mutai and his team are determined to ensure that the country takes its place among the elite rugby nations, both on and off the pitch.
