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John Andrews Memorial Sevens Champs 1983

Back row left to right: Anthony Okulo, Chris Kavila, Robert Abayo Ouko, Anthony Maleche & Andrew Kimwele

Front row left to right: P.J. Okiro, Michael Makonzi Sozi & Jim Ayoki (RIP)


Chris Kavila remembers; If I remember correctly the finals was one of the most brusing I have ever played. For the first time in that tournament somebody brought me down... HARD. Ayoki was the star of that game helping us keep possession in the pack and... that is what saved us. Still I will admit that the true heroes of that win were a Lenana D side mainly made up of third and fourth formers. They knocked out the dreaded RVA A for us. They were of course under the very able hands of one Max "take no prisoners" Muniafu. I'd love to see a group photo of that Lenana D. Mawira, Keitany. Abila, Senga (I think)... It is such a long time I have forgotten.

With the benefit of hindsight Lugard house were the true bomb in that team with no less than 3 players out of the 8. Including the real strength of this sevens team-2 star wingers (both from Lugard) who scared the hell out of Kikwai "silver thighs" of RVA. Namely Andy Kimwele amd "Msaja" Sozi. Kimwele's lighting speed side steps and Sozi's amazing milli-seconds accleration made even me who was playing an admiring spectator many times in that tournament.

Another player on that side Sozi adds: It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if Lenana "A" had met RVA "A", anyway after the RFUEA Sevens semifinal extra-time knockout by Saints we were determined to win this one. We beat Patch "B" (An up and coming Romb...o was part of that team), avenged the Saints "A" defeat and then kept the youngsters at bay in the Final. We only conceded one try in that whole tournament when I "let" Abila slip past for a consolation try! I am told Lenana "D" went on to play as Lenana "A" the following year in the Final but lost to Patch "A". Anyway, hats off to Lenana "D" - they also knocked out Patch "A".

Chris Kavila adds: If we were bright this photo should have been taken with those Lenana D lads... But alas Lenana was Lenana in those days and seniority counted for a lot.

Dave Madara harasses RVA with a dislocated shoulder

The late JC Wakhu was 2 years behind me and played Rugby with distinction before his premature death shortly after leaving campus. In this photo he is playing for Mean Maroon.


I was in 3rd form and in senior colts and Dave Madara was in 6th form. I believe that the year was 1980.

Actually the guy had a very painful dislocated collar bone and was on pain killers. RVA was too important. He took his painkillers as we headed to RVA. The journey took almost 3 hours and I remember guys trading stories aout Lenana rugby greats all the way to RVA

Stake Ondiek was playing Full back that day. Uncustomarily he kicked for touch a lot in that game. At one point I even saw him step back into his 22 to kick for touch, a clever thing to do.

But Madara was the star of that game. Now the guy was small I believe barely 5ft. He was playing at flyhalf. Only we guys knew that his shoulders were heavily padded (although RVA never played dirty). Still Madara seemed to find gaps in the RVA backline at will but the try of the day was when he got the ball on the half way line danced a little throwing the advancing backs in all directions before unleasing an up and under which looked harmless enough. But Madara chased it and the next time we saw him after that kick, he was under it catching it and falling with it on the RVA tryline. What a try!!

In those days we all travelled in the school lorry facing each other. All the way from Kijabe back to school Madara was in great pain and there were moments that it seemed almost unbearable. But the guys were delioghted, an RVA win never came easy. We all couldn't stop singing Madara's praises all the way back to school.

That day I learnt that size may matter in many places BUT certainly not in Rugby.

Mean Maroon 1st XV 1978: More memories

Gerald Walker was a first former in Mitchell house in 1978. here he remembers Mean Maroon 1st XV 1978...

The game was 1978, Lenana XV vs. Kenya Army, on Upper Ridge. Army XV had this bloke built like a tank, never bothered side stepping coz of his sheer mass/speed, but Jimmy Owino (Speke House) put a stop to all that, gave him a body check, it sounded like a head on collision (I was not far from the scene of ‘accident’)…his feet barely touched the patch between the side line and the bush about 5 m away; he appeared to recover, but when he tried to get on his feet and run, his legs gave way and headed in the wrong direction for the next bush cluster, head first. It was embarrassing for the guy; I think he retired from playing after that match.

I had a similar encounter years later in 83, vs. RVA on Stirlings, head on collision with Kikwai, I would tackle by going low at the very last moment possible before impact, well for this particular tackle he also went low, mean point of impact was our heads….why lie, kichwa ya huyo mjamaa ili kuwa jiwe!

Jimmy Owino by the way had the craziest side steps, where most players would have kicked for touch in the 22, Jimmy would clutch the ball in his left hand, then pretend to scan the horizon first with his other hand, it never mattered how close the charging opposition was….then he’d side step himself out of trouble, side step 1, scan; side step 2 scan etc…always very calm, he made it look deceivingly easy.

Head of School Lenana 1978, 1979, 1980

Plus the head of school who crafted the words of the school anthem

The office of the head of school in Lenana has an interesting history. Campaigning for head boy has destroyed many Changerians who have failed to make it, it has also destroyed many who have unexpectedly ended up as HOS. But admittedly the folks in the majority are those who have been spurred to work even harder for success out there after they failed to get to the ultimate office in school.

That is just my informed opinion that has emerged from very careful observation over the years I was at Lenana and also research on head of schools long before I got to changes. We will probably discuss this issue in greater detail later but for now I want to say a few things about the head boys at Lenana in 1978, 1979 and 1980.

In 1978 the head boy was Ken Sagala. A rather tall guy with good looks who hailed from James House. Am told that the choice was a little unexpected and took many by surprise.

In 1979 the head of school was a guy called Mogere who came from Carey Francis. I remember him as a huge bulky guy who played rugby for the first 15 somewhere in the scrum and had a high-pitched voice which was unusual for a guy built like that.

In 1980 the head of school was Andy Mwenesi. In my mind Andy stood out in those 3 years. He was the kind of guy who comfortably carried a lot of authority. The corridor up-school would empty in seconds when he was spotted as far off as the music class coming from block 5.. And it did not matter that the 2:00pm bell for classes had not yet rung. Nobody wanted to get on the wrong side of the Head of school that year.

Mwenesi was from Mumia house and played rugby in the scrum for the first 15. In sixth form I believe he was 8th man.

But Andy had another achievement that will forever etch his name in the history books at Lenana. He was responsible for coming up with the words of the school anthem which I am told is still used today.

The thing about Andy is that he knew when to get really serious but also knew when to really get loose and have fun. He seemed to always so effortlessly shift gears. Still he was one of the most respected head boys in Lenana over many years.