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Kenyan rugby referee opens up about culture shock, studies, and life in Italy
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 31.05.26. | 12:11
In November 2024, he earned World Rugby’s Level Three Match Official accreditation, joining an elite list of Kenyan referees that includes Victor Oduor, Constant Cap, and veteran Godwin Karuga.
For many Kenyan rugby faithful, Duncan “Duncoh” Kioko’s move to Italy sparked assumptions that the Level Three referee had travelled abroad to continue officiating at a higher level.
However, the match official, popularly known as Duncoh, has clarified that his move to Europe is primarily centred on education, with rugby continuing as a secondary pursuit.
The Kenyan referee relocated to Italy in November 2025 to pursue a self-funded Master's degree in International Economics and Commerce, majoring in Global Economic Analysis at the Politecnico Università della Marche.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Duncoh explained that the experience has been exciting but also challenging as he adapts to a completely new environment.
“I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in International Economics and Commerce, majoring in Global Economic Analysis at the Politecnico Università della Marche.
I left Kenya in November 2025, and it has been a great experience so far. Autumn is coming to an end, and winter is beginning. The biggest challenges have been settling in and learning a new language. So far, I have passed four out of my five exams,” he said.
The Kenya Cup referee has also embraced learning Italian as part of his transition into life abroad.
“I have completed my A1 and A2 levels in the Italian language, and I’m now preparing for B1 and B2,” he added.
Duncoh revealed that the programme is fully self-funded, a milestone he credits to determination and the support of his family.
“This is a fully self-funded programme, and I’m grateful to both my family and myself for making it possible,” he said.
While his studies remain the priority, rugby still plays a role in his weekly routine.
“So far, I have been involved in rugby for the past four weekends,” he said.
Balancing academics, fitness, work, and rugby has not been easy, especially during the early stages of settling into a new country.
“Balancing everything has been challenging. Initially, I had to deal with bureaucracy and logistical issues. I wake up in the morning and go for a run, attend classes, work out in the gym, and later in the evening I go to work before getting some rest. I usually rest on Saturday, while Sundays are dedicated to rugby,” he added.
Like many students abroad, adapting to a new culture has also come with unexpected challenges.
“The culture shock has hit me hard. Eating pasta almost every day has been an adjustment, while pork and chicken are very common here,” Duncoh said with a laugh.
Looking ahead, Duncoh has ambitions beyond his current studies and hopes to gain international exposure through internship opportunities before eventually returning home.
“I would like to do my internship in either Norway, Germany, or Argentina. I plan to visit Kenya at least once every year. In the future, I am looking at working with an international bank in Kenya,” he said.
Duncoh’s journey abroad comes just months after reaching one of the biggest milestones in his officiating career. In November 2024, he earned World Rugby’s Level Three Match Official accreditation, joining an elite list of Kenyan referees that includes Victor Oduor, Constant Cap, and veteran Godwin Karuga.
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His rise in officiating has been built on years of commitment. Having started refereeing in 2015, Duncoh recently served as one of the match officials during the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens tournament. In 2023, he attended a Level Three course in Kenya that brought together officials from across Africa, allowing him to exchange ideas and sharpen his skills.
His rugby journey began at Kitondo High School before he joined Masaku Rugby Club. After attending a Level One officiating and coaching course, he handled his first match involving Masaku Rugby and Makueni RFC. In 2019, he achieved another major milestone by officiating his first Kenya Cup match before later earning Level Two accreditation and joining the Panel of Match Officials.
