Loading the 86 th Enterprise Cup final on 26 April 2025 Menengai Oilers RFC vs Kabras Sugar RFC and a new venue for the Cup final at the ASK Show grounds in Nakuru-Kenya.
The last time the Cup final was hosted in Nakuru was on 8 August 1964 but at the Nakuru Athletics Club. Simon David ‘Lofty’ Reynolds’ NAC were defending champions & they took on Keith McGuiness’ Kenya Harlequins’.
If Menengai win they will become only the 19th side to lift the holy grail of East African Rugby. Two clubs the original NAC rugby were holders in 1958, 1960, 1962 & 1963 while in more recent times the Nakuru RFC of Walter Pete Prinsloo-Max Muniafu, Hamilton Onsando & John Mito Kainga & others won the Cup in 2008 & 2014 led by Lawi Buyachi & Gibson Weru Kahuthia.These were two different Nakuru clubs although both were headquartered at the NAC.
Defending champs Kabras Sugar RFC are four time title holders and will be keen to extend their reign. Rugby enthusiasts will recall the halcyon days of Kampala RFC & three titles on the trot in the days of Dickie Evans, Martin Watson, Chris Okong’o-Okwelle & Bobby Mwanga. Idi Amin & his hat trick of tries in the 1960 competition for Nile RFC, the great Eldoret sides with 5 consecutive wins, West Kenya Oribis & Coast Province (included players from Tanga RFC & Dar-es-Salaam RFC).
What about Mwamba RFC vs Nondescripts RFC who were engaged in 6 consecutive Cup finals (Only punctuated by Barclays Bank RFC in 1985)? Impala RFC & Kenya Harlequins share 11 titles a piece.
Rugby Union which came via Colonialism was a symbol of white power & supremacy be it in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Rhodesia’s. East Africa followed suit. It was only in the 1950s when black players started to make the grade in the Enterprise Cup, Mike Kaggwa, Albert Kaggwa of Uganda RFC (Kampala RFC from 1956) and later Idi Amin.
Finally Christopher Okong’o-Okwelle of Kampala RFC had the singular honour of becoming the first black player to lift the Enterprise Cup on 16 August 1969 at the RFUEA Grounds, Nairobi. He replicated the feat on 8 August 1970 on home soil at the Kampala Sports Club in Kampala.
He was followed by Chris Onsotti, John Muhato & Frank Wanyama Ojiambo the red men from Impala RFC who dominated between 1970 & 1975.
That was the trickle before the torrent. Mombasa SC with a title in 1997 taking the Cup for a long overdue sea-side holiday- Amer Mwatsahu-Captain- Edwin Obuya, Andrew Lopokoiyit Thomas Opiyo, George Adul and Paul Keir.
Who was the first captain to lift the Cup on 2 August 1930?
This is one cigar the University of Nairobi Mean Machine have never smoked while Mwamba RFC lost 11 finals a record.102 year old Nondescript’s stand head & shoulders above all Clubs with 25 titles.
The inscription on the original trophy donated by HMS Enterprise September 1928 reads ‘For Inter District competition.
This piece was inspired by-Kirori Mindo.
Twende Kazi at the refinery-Saturday
Article by: Sir Paul Okong’o,
East Africa Rugby Historian
