Mixed reactions from fans after appointment of KRU's first female chairperson
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 07.06.25. | 15:06
While the move has been hailed by some as a bold step towards inclusivity and fresh leadership, it has also been met with resistance and scepticism in equal measure
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) made history on Thursday, 5 June, by appointing Harriet Achieng Okach as its first-ever female Chairperson. This milestone has sparked a flurry of reactions from fans across the country.
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Okach's appointment was confirmed during a special board meeting held to fill the leadership vacuum following the resignation of Alexander “Sasha” Mutai on Friday, 30 May, during a Special General Meeting at the RFUEA Grounds.
While the move has been hailed by some as a bold step towards inclusivity and fresh leadership, it has also been met with resistance and scepticism in equal measure.
Kisumu RFC, where Okach once served as Honorary Treasurer, led the praise.
“Congratulations to our former Honorary Treasurer, Harriet Okach, on making history as the first-ever woman to be appointed Chairperson of the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU)!
We are incredibly proud of her and wish her every success as she leads the game to new heights,” the club posted.
Okach’s rise in rugby administration began at the 2023 KRU Annual General Meeting, where she earned the highest number of votes among board candidates.
She was later appointed Director of Marketing and Commercial, a role in which she was credited with enhancing rugby’s visibility and securing new commercial partnerships.
Off the pitch, she is a seasoned communications strategist with over 15 years of experience in Kenya’s public and private sectors. She is also part of World Rugby’s “Impact Beyond 2025” legacy project, which promotes inclusion and gender equity in the sport.
Through this initiative, she helps lead "Unstoppable Rugby for Change", a grassroots program using rugby to tackle gender-based violence and support girls’ education in underserved areas.
Despite these credentials, Okach’s appointment has not been universally celebrated.
Some fans have voiced frustration and mistrust, questioning her track record and leadership style.
“LOL, wait a minute. She told me our Lionesses already had a stylist and asked me to take back the outfits my company donated in Los Angeles.
Each girl got gear worth $250. And this is the person now supposed to look out for our players?” wrote one online user, Njira Njeri.
Others did not mince their words with Arigi Obiero predicting trouble: “Iko shida hapa mbele… Waaah! Ngojeni tu mtaona. (There is trouble ahead. Wait and see),”
Some fans questioned the process behind the appointment.
“Kusafisha… sponsors know the card. Why not have Ndale take over since he is the vice chairman?” Ayumba Ayodi wrote.
Even as the backlash simmers, many in the rugby fraternity are still optimistic that Okach’s appointment will signal a turning point for the sport’s governance and inclusivity in Kenya.
