The Ministry of Rugby hosted the Elliptics Awards gala on Saturday 20th November, 2010.

Despite a two hour delay as guests trickled in, the event, MC-ed by Renee Sewe and Kule Ekirapa, was well attended and well organised.

Although KRU Director Edward Rombo was present to accept his award, I had hoped to see more representation from KRU. Maybe they weren’t invited .

It was lovely to see Harlequins well represented; officials James Absaloms Juma and Paul Nyamodi were there, as was Edward Kinyany. I also saw Alan Hicks from Nondescripts. There was a sprinkling of Mwamba players. A very jovial Sydney Obonyo, the new Mean Machine coach was also in attendance, and Mitch Ocholla brought some of his Leos along. Godwin Karuga, one of Kenya’s top referees, was also present.

The ever lovely Priya Chana also attended this event.

Steel Pulse, rugby’s original cheer leader, took the crowd down memory lane as he sang a few of his golden oldies; the X rated versions, and Rombo was only too willing to sing back up.

Award recipients included:

1. Elliptics MVP of the Year (MALE)
Innocent Simiyu

2. Elliptics MVP of the Year (FEMALE)
Philadelphia Orlando

3. Elliptics Referee of the Year
Godwin Karuga

4. Elliptics Director of the Year
Edward Rombo

5. Elliptics Team of the Year
Kenya Harlequins

6. Elliptics Best Audio Media
Capital FM

7. Elliptics Best Visual Media
Supersport

8. Elliptics Best Print Media
Nation

9. Elliptics Rookie of the Year
Ayange Felix

10. Elliptics Coach of the Year
Edward Kinyany (HARLEQUINS)

11. Elliptics School of the Year
Mang’u

12. Elliptics Fan of the Year
Millie Mwango (KENYA)

13.Elliptics Hall of Fame
Jackson ‘Jacko’ Omaido

Omaido’s induction into the Hall of Fame was well deserved and long overdue.

A few people tripped over their speeches and some shed tears. The event was over by around midnight but some stalwarts stayed on until sunrise.

All in all it was a great night, with great people.

Mentalacrobatics and Harvesttone at the Elliptics

You can see more photos of the event on Ministry of Rugby or on the ministry’s facebook page

Classroom furniture gave way to the Kenya referendum at Kawangware Primary School.

Photo by Nekesa Were

Kenyans thronged into St. Mary’s School, Nairobi to vote on the proposed constitution. While several drove to the polling station, some opted to cycle over and used the rugby try posts as a bicycle rack.

Photo by Nekesa Were

Someone once said, “In Africa, football is not a religion, but it is everything a religion should be.”

Every day we wake up to the sound of vuvuzelas in the streets. It is like a clarion call for all football fans to wake up to another day of electrifying games. South Africa has been swept away by the vuvuzela tide. Always the radical, I promised myself that I would not conform to popular culture. I detested these vile, offensive noise makers. But eventually, I let my hair down and puckered up. Still, many shops here now advertise great deals on ear plugs or “anti-vuvuzela devices”. Read full story here.

Nairobi is one of the most prominent cities in Africa politically and financially. It is also a major international destination and a prominent social centre. With boundless energy coursing through its veins Nairobi is the epicentre of everything fun and festive in Kenya and subsequently the home of the most regular and international festival hosted in Kenya; the Safari Sevens or Safaricom Sevens at it is known now. Read full story here.

The curtain fell on the Jukwaani! festival for performance literature today with several great performance; notably; Mnazi:Vuta N’kuvute (Coconut tree: Pull and I pull you), a poem by Abdilatif Abdalla, and Talking Drums.

Musa Adam:Actor, Musician, Rapper and Song writer Photo by Jerry Riley

The curtain fell on the Jukwaani! festival for performance literature today with several great performances; notably; Mnazi:Vuta N’kuvute (Coconut tree: Pull and I pull you), a poem by Abdilatif Abdalla, and Talking drums of Africa.

Mnazi: Vuta N’kuvute is about a confrontation between two brothers and is related to the struggle between two Kenyan political parties.
Political parties are formed by people with similar political aims and opinions. They are intended to articulate the needs of members and supporters. They are meant to enable supporters to participate in political decisions. But in Kenya and several other African countries, political parties are sometimes formed on the basis of tribe, or on the promise of elevation into power based on affiliations rather than ability to lead.

As a result, our leaders squabble like little children fighting over a toy. They struggle to get into power but like a child and his toy, soon lose interest. There are no true underlying principles on which political parties are founded and so no collective vision and mission for their party. With nothing to hold on to, political parties are easily swayed by the wind and become self-seeking and suspicious of each other.
What a hopeless regime this is, built on mistrust amongst leaders and built on mistrust in our leaders. A regime in which political parties are more easily identifiable by the tribal affiliation than policy.

In Kenya, political parties are formed to drive individuals’ selfish needs. And members are recruited who have similar selfish goals to accomplish to as they perceive it, gain control of the country and have people in power whose main agenda will be to ensure that they take priority in so far as distribution of resources and funding for development is concerned.

There is so much talk of power sharing. But does it really work or does it just look good on paper? That infamous handshake after the 2007 elections still haunts me; plastic smiles and minds racing scheming even then thinking of how and when to deviously get their way, any way, and underrating the intelligence of Kenyans like we would really be bought by their tactless deception.

At the end of the fight in this shairi, Alii, oneof the characters, says:

Ijapokuwa nataka, kukustahamiliya
Iko siku nitachoka, zaidi kuvumiliya
Hapo nitalokufika,litakudhuru vibaya
Jilino nakuapiya

Although I am willing to bear with you,
One day i’ll take it no more
What will then happen to you
Will truly affect you adversely
And I swear on…

Ningenda zangu kumbuka. yote niliyoyanena
Siyatwa kidhihaka, kiketi yawaze sana
Iko siku itafika, haitakawiya tna
Kujulikane bayana

Although I am now leaving,
Reflect deeply my brother on what I said
Do not take it lightly
The day of reckoning will soon be there
Then the whole truth will be known.

Although first written in 1970, this shairi is still relevant to our circumstances in present day Kenya. We clearly have not learnt from our history. We still vow to one day stand up for ourselves; to face our oppressors; to reclaim our humanity.

As 2012 approaches, what is the big plan to reclaim power? What brilliant schemes have the usual suspects cooked up to ensure that they retain power and what are we going to do about it? On what basis will we vote?

Vuta n’kuvute is a well written piece that speaks a truth, which we often try to run away from only until we become directly affected. Until then we are content to hide in our little perfect cocoons with death and destruction all around us.

As day turned to night, the pace changed from hard runs and quick steps, to the intoxicating aroma of the Captain’s Mbuzi as it slowly roasted on the evening fire. The fire represented for me, that eternal flame that burns in the heart of a true Machine; that warmth deep down in our souls every time we hear the name Mean Machine; that intensity that Mean Machine brings to the heart of Kenyan Rugby.

Read more here.

Mean Machine RFC, knowing on which side their bread is buttered, gave The Machine Old Boys the shirts off their backs; literally. And thus the game began, the MOB in the great blue and white, the boys looking like ruffians…

Rombo V. Kopo
Generations came together, the inspiring and the inspired…. Read more here.