Kelvin Njihia Kairu 27M

The Nickname That Stuck I did not pick the name "Rookie"-the boys gave it to me. I was the first guy in my year to break into the main squad, and that made stand out. From then on, it stuck. Even when I'd be playing for seasons, I was still a "Rookie". At first it felt like a joke, but after a while, it became who I was. Rookie was not just a name, it was a story. Wearing Jersey 7 I donned jersey number 7-If you know rugby, you know what that means-pure chaos (Ask Dr James Muchiri, He also wore jersey 7 but for a different team way earlier).Flankers don't get the glory of tries or fancy kicks. We live in the breakdown, in the rucks and in the dirt. My job was simple: tackle, contest, slow the opponents down and make life  easier for my teammate. It was not pretty, but that's why i loved it. Tackler First, Ball Carrier Second I will be honest- I wasn't much of a ball carrier. If you wanted to smash through defenders, I wasn't your man. But tackling? That was my bread and butter. I made myself as the guy you would hit get up. clean and hard tackles was my contribution. My Debut: JKUAT Cougars I will never forget my first game for Wasps. It was against JKUAT Cougars, and man, my nerves were all over the place. But once the whistle went, instinct took over. It was a close one - We edged it 21-20 in their home turf. Walking off the field, sweaty and bruised, I felt I belonged there. Six Seasons In The Championship And One Varsity League I played a six full seasons in the championship and one varsity league. On paper, my record does not look like much: one try. Just one. But the real story is in the countless tackles and turnovers. That's what being a flanker is about- Dirty work nobody notices but everybody needs. The Toughest Rivals: MMUST Rugby If there is one team that owned us, it was MMUST. I never beat them- not once. They were physical, fast and just ruthless. Every game against them felt like going to war. Both home and away, it was the same old story. To this day, when I hear "MMUST", I just shake my head. The best results against them was 20-17 in their favour at the Wasps Nest  and the worst was 43-0 in their home ground. Those matches hurt, but they made me tougher Discipline And Control One thing I am proud of is never getting a yellow card. Not one sin bin in my whole career. For a guy who lived in the thick of tackles, that's no small thing. I always tried to stay disciplined. The One Try vs Kitale RFC That one try I scored came against Kitale RFC. I still remember it because it felt like all the years of sweat  had finally paid off in a moment of glory. It wasn't fancy, it wasn't long range- but it was mine. The Final Whistle: Mean Machines My last game was against Mean Machines. It was ugly, low scoring and physical-just the way rugby can be. We lost 5-3, and the results cut deep. Not just because of the clavicle injury that  I got when a mole collapsed on me and ended my 15s career, but because that meant Egerton Wasps were relegated to the nationwide league. It was so heartbreaking. Lessons From The Game Looking back, rugby game me everything. It toughened me up, taught me teamwork and showed me the value of discipline. I started as "Rookie", but that name became more than just a laugh. It was my journey-From the first nervous game to the last painful one, with all the hits , tackles, heartbreaks and memories in between.  Do I Still Enjoy Rugby? Yes i do. Rugby is addictive. I am a big fan of the mighty Springboks

Nakuru City, the heart of Kenya's Rift Valley, is more than just a geographical landmark-It also adds up as a cultural, economical and ecological hub that blends in natural beauty with rapid urban growth and is considered the fastest growing city in East and Central Africa as per UN Habitat report 2013 1.A CITY BORN OF NATURE: Nakuru is the home of Nakuru National Park, which is the home of Lake Nakuru which is the breeding ground of the white and pink flamingos. Additionally, the park is home to several wild animals like lions, rhinos, giraffes just to mention but afew. The park attracts visitors from all over the world who come to see the wonders of Nakuru. 2.CULTURAL DIVERSITY: Nakuru, initially inhabited by the Maasai community, who named it "dusty place" is home to a bunch of other communities from the Kenya. This makes Nakuru one of the most diverse urban space in Kenya. 3.ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY: Nakuru's status as a city has sparked rapid growth in terms of infrastucture. With better ammenities, Nakuru attracts investors locally and internationally and thus making it the commercial hub of the Rift Valley. Additionally, assured security attracts so many investors and business men.  4.AGRICULTURE: Nakuru is home of abundance. It is a producer of all food produces thus bringing food security in this region. From fresh, fruits, vegetables, animal products. in simple words, Nakuru is the " Land of milk and honey". Nakuru City isn't just a place you visit-it's a place that steals your heart. From the pink shimmers of flamingos on Lake Nakuru to the warm smiles of it's people, every moment here feels magical. Come to Nkuru ,and you won;t just see beauty-you will live it, breathe it, and carry it with you long after you leave.                 "Nakuru - Where Nature Meets The Heart"