Kenyan sprinter hangs his rugby boots to focus on athletics
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 20.09.25. | 10:00
Stepping away from rugby means creating space to pursue glory elsewhere
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) winger Tyson Juma alias Mnyama has officially traded his rugby boots for athletics spikes.
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Juma, who is a familiar name in local rugby circles, announced his decision on Sunday, 15 September, after starring at the Dala 7s.
The speedster was returning to competitive rugby for the first time since the 2023 Tisap 7s.
He made a memorable mark, scoring seven tries to clinch the tournament’s top try scorer award alongside Menengai Oilers’ Dennis Abukuse. That saw him guide MMUST to the Challenge Trophy.
For Juma, stepping away from rugby means creating space to pursue glory on the track fully. This year, he has already tested himself in several athletic events, including a training camp in France.
Juma’s journey is one of resilience and reinvention. In 2020, he suffered a nasty injury while playing in the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship semifinals against the University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine.
He suffered a skull depression injury, and doctors warned that a return to rugby could be life-threatening.
“It was a turning point. My body could not handle rugby anymore, but I was not ready to give up on sports,” Juma said in a past interview.
Following that injury, athletics became his second chance and gave him a platform to channel his explosive speed and competitive edge without the constant risk of another devastating injury.
Though he briefly returned to rugby at the 2023 Tisap 7s, and later dazzled at the Dala 7s with his trademark finishing, that performance turned out to be his farewell.
Now, Juma is targeting the global athletics stage. With Kenya’s sprint sensation, Ferdinand Omanyala, recently struggling with injury setbacks, he believes it’s time for new names to step up.
“I want to be part of the next generation that brings sprinting medals home. Kenya has already proven we can produce sprinters; I just want to add to that legacy,” he said.
