A year ago, striker Rebecca Okwaro watched her dream slip away—not for lack of effort, but because fate intervened.
A broken arm kept her off the pitch, and the club she called home, Thika Queens, let her go in what she describes as an unprofessional manner.
“This injury meant I couldn’t finish the season, as I focused on healing. Unfortunately, my absence led to me getting released by Thika Queens,” she recalls, her voice tinged with the resilience of someone who has turned pain into power.
Fast forward to the 2024/25 season, and Okwaro is on the brink of claiming the Football Kenya Federation Women's Premier League (FKF-WPL) Golden Boot.
With just one game remaining, the Kenya Police Bullets striker leads the scoring chart with 14 goals in 20 appearances—two goals ahead of her closest rivals.
Last season, she finished tied in second place with teammate Puren Alukwe, both scoring 15 goals, just one behind Tumaini Waliaula—formerly of four-time FKF-WPL champions Vihiga Queens and now with Sirens Grivna in Greece.
“Last season’s near miss fueled my ambition,” says the Harambee Starlets forward, who had initially set a personal target of 20 goals. “Self-belief” and “confidence in front of goal” have been her driving forces this time around.
Her resurgence began with a second chance—one that came after FKF Premier League side Kenya Police FC acquired Thika Queens to meet the Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirement of running a women’s team.
Kenya Police Bullets’ leading striker Rebecca Okwaro (left) vies for the ball with Lavenda Akinyi of Ulinzi Starlets during their FKF Women’s Premier Legue match at Police Sacco Stadium on October 19, 2024. Okwaro is the league’s joint top scorer on 15 goals.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation
The newly formed Kenya Police Bullets brought in head coach Beldine Odemba, who also serves as the Harambee Starlets coach, and she didn’t hesitate to recall Okwaro.
Okwaro responded to that call with purpose. Week after week, she has delivered, her goals propelling Bullets to the top of the league with 43 points.
They could have sealed the title last weekend, but a barren draw with Vihiga Queens left the door open for Ulinzi Starlets, who trail by just two points.
The championship will now be decided on the final day: Bullets face Trinity Starlets at the Trinity Complex in Nakuru, while Ulinzi host Kisumu All Starlets at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
Kibera Soccer Women's Stella Adhiambo (left) vies for the ball with Kenya Police Bullets' Rebecca Okwaro during their Kenya Women Premier League match on November 12, 2023 at Kenya Police Sacco Stadium, South C.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
As a player, Okwaro exudes a calm intensity—quiet off the pitch, deadly in front of goal. But even as the accolades draw near, she remains grounded.
“Teamwork is essential,” she says. “I give credit to my teammates, the technical bench, and coach Beldine Odemba. She’s like a mother figure to us.”
Odemba’s nurturing yet tactical leadership has played a key role in Okwaro’s revival, guiding a team that has not only remained competitive but also inspired.
Challenging her for the top scorer crown are Catherine Khaemba of Bungoma Queens and Joy Kinglady Oriyo of Ulinzi Starlets, each with 12 goals. Faith Mboya (Kibera Soccer Women) follows with 10, while Diana Cherono (Vihiga Queens) and Berverline Adika (Zetech Sparks) have scored nine apiece.
Despite the tight race, Okwaro’s focus remains unwavering. “It has been more challenging this season because each team was better prepared,” she says. “Women’s football is growing in the country, and it is the next big thing.”
Okwaro’s journey began in the Rhoda area of Nakuru County, where she was raised by her father and two older brothers after her mother passed away in 2003. The youngest of three siblings and the only athlete in the family, she honed her skills playing with her brothers on dusty pitches.
Vihiga Queens FC Norah Ann (left) battles for the ball with Kenya Police's Rebecca Okwaro during their Women Premier League match at Kenya Police stadium on February 10, 2024. Photo | Sila Kiplagat
Her talent earned her a scholarship to Wiyeta Girls High School in Kitale, after completing her primary education at Philadelphia Academy Charter School in Nakuru. Post-high school, she joined Thika Queens in 2015, but soon stepped away from the game to focus on her education.
During a four-year hiatus, Okwaro studied Project Management at the Kenya Institute of Management (KIMS) in Nakuru while working for solar company Solinc. She returned to football in 2019 with the now-defunct Oserian Ladies in Naivasha, followed by a season with Trinity Starlets in 2020/21 before rejoining Thika in 2022.
Off the field, Okwaro is a self-proclaimed movie buff and avid reader. A devoted Cristiano Ronaldo fan, she says her main inspiration comes from herself—an acknowledgment of how far she’s come and how hard she’s worked to be here.
She remains committed to her football career, and beyond that, holds a quiet aspiration: “I hope to serve in the police service after retirement,” she shares.
As the final matchday looms, Rebecca Okwaro stands at the edge of personal triumph, shaped by hardship but defined by hope. One more game, one more goal, and her story of redemption could be crowned with golden glory.
