Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium is ready for a four day festival of speed, skill and home pride as the Safari 7s Rugby Tournament 2025 kicks off. Kenya’s Shujaa hunt a historic fourth straight crown, the Morans open the door to a new generation, and club giants KCB RFC arrive riding domestic momentum, all set against a vibrant international field that underscores the tournament’s prestige.
Shujaa chase a historic fourth straight title
Kenya’s senior sevens side, Shujaa, enter the Safari 7s with the confidence of champions and the weight of history. Co captains George Ooro and Samuel Asati lead a settled group featuring proven match winners Kevin Wekesa, Vincent Onyala and the elusive finisher Nygel Amaitsa. The core has been kept intact, a deliberate move as Shujaa aim to turn a 2024 three peat into a fourth successive triumph at Nyayo.
Last year’s 12 to 0 win over Shogun Rugby in Machakos crowned a special run, making Shujaa the first team to clinch three straight Safari 7s titles since Kenya’s own streak between 2008 and 2010. The path to four will be steep, with regional heavyweights Zimbabwe and Uganda seeking to spoil the party, and with Zambia, Reunion and Uganda’s Walukuba Barbarians adding depth to the contest. Invitational sides Shogun Rugby, French Renegades, UK Select and Apache Rugby bring international sharpness, a mix that should test the champions’ poise under pressure.
Morans open the door to a new generation
The Morans have long been a launchpad for Kenya’s next wave, and this edition arrives with a burst of youthful energy. John Okoth of Menengai Oilers will captain a development squad stacked with debutants, including the Strathmore Leos trio of Elton Amalemba, Arnold Muita and the breakout star Victor Mola. Mola’s National 7s Circuit season was electric, he finished as the top try scorer and the top points scorer, a statement that earned his shot in national colours.
There is more fresh firepower. Oilers’ Daniel Kipchirchir heads into Nyayo after a standout circuit, Kabras RFC’s Rayvon Ambale steps in after an impressive campaign, and the group is rounded out by new faces Eugene Ojiambo, David Nyangige and Arnold Agonda. The blend aims to build on last year’s podium run, when the Morans took third with a 26 to 5 statement over the Zimbabwe Cheetahs, a result that soothed earlier losses to the same foe at continental events.
This year’s Safari7s is not just about showcasing talent, but about building depth and testing combinations as we prepare for bigger challenges ahead. The blend of experience and debutants gives us balance, and the home fans can expect a feast of rugby, said head coach Kevin Wambua after unveiling the squads.
KCB target impact amid transition
KCB RFC arrive as newly crowned National Sevens Circuit champions, a badge that carries expectation and belief. The Bankers will be guided at Nyayo by interim coach Jacob Ojee, with regular head coach Andrew Amonde shifting to the Shujaa bench for the weekend. KCB’s task is complicated by national team call ups, as co captain George Ooro, playmaker Samuel Asati, finisher Floyd Wabwire, influential Vincent Onyala, forward Festus Shiasi and the powerful Elvis Olukusi link up with Shujaa.
Opportunity often hides in disruption, and KCB lean into that truth. Ojee, a seasoned leader and former captain, trusts his group’s preparation and mentality, a theme that has defined their domestic season. Momentum is the word around Ruaraka, an insistence that the circuit title provides the launchpad to compete with the region’s best at Nyayo.
We are coming into the Safari 7s with momentum and belief after a successful sevens circuit. The boys are in great shape, and our focus is on executing our game plan with precision. Playing against top regional and international teams allows us to test ourselves and raise our standards. We are here to compete and make our fans proud, said Coach Ojee.
The Bankers will look to their future with confidence. Emerging talent such as Austin Sikutwa, Bramwel Kilwake, Mike Wekesa, Brian Wahinya and Emmanuel Opondo bring zip and ambition, while experienced figures Bob Muhati and Davies Nyaundi provide the ballast needed when knockout pressure rises. KCB’s depth has been a calling card all year, and Nyayo offers the perfect stage to prove it travels beyond the local circuit.
Women take center stage at Nyayo
Kenya’s women will be out in full voice and full force after acting head coach Simon Odongo named both the Kenya Lionesses and the development side, the Cubs. The Lionesses are led by captain Sheila Chajira with Freshia Awino as vice captain, and feature the electric Janet Okello alongside Naomi Amuguni. New faces Charity Nillah, Faith Achieng and Marvel Laura Oswago earn debuts, a nod to succession planning that balances experience with promise.
Our aim is to create a strong balance within the playing group. The Lionesses bring invaluable experience, while the Cubs represent the next generation of talent. We believe both teams will compete fiercely and proudly represent Kenya on home soil, said Odongo.
The women’s field is rich in quality, with defending champions Costa Blanca Barbarians headlining an eight team roster. They are joined by Belgium, Zimbabwe and Uganda, as well as Shogun Rugby and the dual home entries of Kenya Lionesses 1 and Kenya Lionesses 2. For the Cubs, captain Ann Njeri will steer a unit brimming with debutants, a clear indication that the Kenya Rugby Union is investing in a long runway of talent.
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Speed over size shapes the modern game
No storyline captures the current state of Kenyan sevens better than the evolution of how the game is played. Shujaa star Vincent Onyala, a key part of the defending champions and a KCB lynchpin, sees a sport that is faster, safer and more tactical. He points to improved safety frameworks and smarter squad rotation as reasons players can express themselves with more freedom over a long season.
Speed has increased and things are happening at a faster rate. Previously rugby was a dangerous game, but with the modern formalities, rugby players are being protected. Now it has become more of a squad game, not just about brute strength but also strategy and rotation, said Onyala.
KCB’s Bob Muhati, a 15s stalwart expected to carry leadership for the Bankers, adds that the player profile is changing. The bruising forwards of years past are giving way to smaller, quicker, sharper athletes, a shift he attributes to conditioning and the demands of the modern game. The result is a sevens landscape where endurance, speed and decision making share equal billing with contact work.
When I was transitioning to top flight rugby, many teams had massive forwards. Now, across most teams, players are built like wingers, smaller, faster and more agile. Conditioning has changed, and rugby today demands speed and endurance as much as strength, said Muhati.
What to watch for at Nyayo
- Shujaa’s pursuit of a fourth straight title, whether their experienced core can handle renewed pressure from Uganda and Zimbabwe,
- The Morans’ rookie class, how quickly Victor Mola and fellow debutants adapt to international tempo,
- KCB’s depth test, the impact of youngsters alongside leaders Bob Muhati and Davies Nyaundi,
- The women’s bracket, how Costa Blanca Barbarians respond to the twin threat of Kenya Lionesses and Uganda.
Confirmed visiting cast and competitive field
The men’s draw features 12 teams, among them the host union teams Shujaa and Morans along with club champions KCB RFC. Regional contenders Uganda and Zimbabwe headline the chase, with Zambia, Reunion and Walukuba Barbarians adding seasoned bite. Invitational entries Shogun Rugby, French Renegades, UK Select and Apache Rugby supply a global edge, a mix that has historically made the Safari 7s a true litmus test for Kenyan sides.
In total, 20 teams are expected across both competitions, 12 men and eight women, an expansive slate that speaks to the tournament’s standing in African rugby. The weekend at Nyayo is more than a showpiece, it is a barometer for Kenya’s depth, a bridge from domestic circuits to international standards and a celebration of sevens culture under Nairobi skies.
Full Kenya squads
Shujaa squad
- Kevin Wekesa
- George Ooro (C)
- Vincent Onyala
- Dennis Abukuse
- Gabby Ayimba
- Samuel Asati (C)
- Nygel Amaitsa
- Christan Ojwang
- Patrick Odongo
- Jackson Siketi
- Floyd Wabwire
- Festus Shiasi
- William Mwanji
Morans squad
- John Okoth (C)
- Brian Mutua
- Elvis Olukusi
- Clinton Amukachi *
- Barnabas Owuor
- Eugene Ojiambo *
- Daniel Kipchirchir *
- Rayvon Ambale *
- David Nyangige *
- Elton Amalemba *
- Arnold Agonda *
- Victor Mola *
- Arnold Muita *
Kenya Lionesses squad
- Naomi Amuguni
- Charity Nillah *
- Moreen Muritu
- Christabel Lindo
- Sheila Chajira (C)
- Sinaida Nyachio
- Edith Naliaka
- Faith Achieng *
- Marvel Laura Oswago *
- Faith Livoi
- Janet Okello
- Freshia Awino (VC)
Kenya Cubs squad
- Nelly Chikombe *
- Ann Akinyi *
- Gloria Matasio *
- Maureen Chebet (VC)
- Diana Mideva
- Maxine Abuga (VC)
- Ann Njeri (C)
- Ann Namunyak
- Angel Salamba *
- Refa Ochando *
- Merisha Negesia *
- Tracy Msungu *
Final word
The Safari 7s returns to Nyayo with a familiar heartbeat and fresh storylines. Shujaa seek legacy, the Morans chase opportunity, KCB measure their depth, and the Lionesses and Cubs carry a nation’s hopes in the women’s draw. Across four days, Kenya’s rugby identity will be on display in full color, a testament to systems taking shape, players evolving with the times and a home crowd that knows how to turn promise into performance.
