Kisumu Rugby Football Club is a Kenyan rugby union club based in Kisumu. Also known as Lakeside RFC, for the 2015–16 season the club competes in the Nationwide League.
History and Origins
Kisumu Rugby Football Club, Kisumu
Kisumu was founded in 1982, by David Mshila, Dennis Awori, Job Owino, Jack Ogal, Jim Owino, and Jos Odaga. They were originally based at the Kisumu Railway Club and the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu. Kisumu Boys High School also served as a training venue for years. Kisumu Technical High School (later called Kisumu Polytechnic - Makasembo) (1997) was used as a venue for games because of the good grass facility. In 1983 Kisumu combined with Kakamega, Kitale and Eldoret to form KITUSUMU: an acronym for Kitale and Kisumu.J.B Nyamwange, Jack and Walter Omaido came in from Kitale. Reg ’Pape” Sembi of Kakamega, a Canadian member of the Peace Corps Johnson Travis and Paul Scott of Eldoret. Records indicate that Barclays bank RFC travelled to Kakamega in 1985 playing Kisumu in the Enterprise Cup match. Barclays won the game 47–4. Kisumu and Kitusumu played mainly as a Western Kenya touring side but folded up in 1988.
It is host to the Dala Sevens tournaments in the Kenya Rugby Football Union Calendar, one part of the Kenya National Sevens Circuit, today Safaricom Sevens series.
Notable Players & Officials
Fred Jura
Andrew Amonde
Dennis Awori
Jimmy Ayoki
Paul Okong'o
Elvin Okong'o
Peter Okong'o
Nasser Midamba
Andrew Okwaro
David Akelola
Susan Nyaribo
Tolbert Achayo
Newman Opiyo
Issa Mohamed Issa
Silas Namale Amunga
Bella Maguys
Teddy Omondi San
Clifford Mabeya Mayaka
Brian Waswala Olewe
Charles Okuthe
Lutta Kasamani
Paul Okullu
Felix Okech
Richard Nyakwaka
Joseph Musiga
Karyna Okwaro
Gordon Raila
Gwada Ogot
Benjamin Opondo
David Mshila
Job Owino
Jack Ogal
Jimmy Owino
Fidel Odinga
Felix Owili
Ted Edward Ahono
Antony Okeyo
Richard Sidindi Jaadha
Martin Owilla
Amos Amos
Revival
Kisumu RFC was revived in late 1990 by rugby enthusiasts led by Mike Omondi, Bella Maguys, Gordon Raila, Peter Openda, Jim Owino, Dennis Otti, Joseph Owino, Eric Ogot, Sammy Ogot, Susan Nyaribo, Bob Bengo, Paul Okong’o, Nasser Midamba, Trevor Mugwanga, John Mark Magana, Oyunga Pala, Felix Okech and Issa Mohamed Issa amongst others. After the initial positive response to training, Jimmy Owino was appointed club coach. His initial task was to build a team with more commitment and solidarity, and to weed out the complacent ‘feel good attitude’ that had led to the dissipation of the original Kisumu RFC.
Jimmy's approach bore rapid results, but the next major obstacle became finance. At a team, Kamukunji it was unanimously agreed that Charles Lutta Kasamani be appointed Club patron, should he agree. He agreed. He donated playing kit, rugby balls and a first aid box. Some of the Kisumu-based personalities who raised funds tirelessly at the infamous Club Night at the Kisumu Hotel(Hotel Royale) pool side included Nilmar Darbar, Widar Krogsund, Ogweno Omwaga, Franz Bonn, Noel Okoth, Mike Humphreys, Morris Odhiambo, Jacko Omino, Peter Odaga, Paul Okullu, Peter Openda, Jos Odaga Charles Okuthe and many more whose names we cannot include here. An interim office of Charles Okuthe (chairman) and Bella Maguys (Secretary) organized the first ever rugby tournament in Kisumu which was ‘not too good not too bad ‘in October 1991. The same office later organized Kisumu RFC elections which saw a new office of Peter Openda (chairman) and Paul Okullu (Hon- Secretary) take over, with most of the interim office bearers not seeking re-election.
From 1991 to 1996, Kisumu steadily concentrated on building a strong foundation by taking part in tournaments such as the Great Rift Valley 10-aside in Nakuru and Mombasa's Driftwood Sevens. This was by choice because of a small player base and financial limitations. At the same time, the Club hosted the Kisumu Ten-aside event held between 1991 and 1994. With a rich hinterland of players from Maseno School, St. Mary's School Yala, Nyang'ori High School, Moi University and Maseno University there was light at the end of the tunnel. Mombasa businessman Edwin Yinda donated playing kit to the team after the Driftwood finals contested between Mean Machine RFC and Kisumu.