Alice Owiti and Maureen Owiti are identical twins who have spent most of their lives refusing to be separated by school, by circumstance, or by sport.
In 2026, that lifelong bond delivered one of the most remarkable seasons in Kenyan women’s hockey, as the identical twins from Kisumu led Lakers Hockey Club to a historic double, first conquering Africa, then winning their maiden Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Women’s Premier League title.
They were part of Kisumu Lakers side that won the Kenya Hockey Union Women’s Premier League title with a 2-1 victory over defending champions Blazers in February 2026 at City Park Hockey Stadium in Nairobi.
Alice Owiti (left) and her twin sister Maureen Owiti (centre) of Lakers Hockey Club vie for the ball with Ogunmakinju Odunayo of Delta Queens during the Africa Cup for Club championships at Sikh Union on February 19, 2023.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
It was a defining moment for the two, coming just weeks after their triumph at the Women’s Africa Cup for Club Champions (ACCC) in Harare, where Alice Owiti captained the side and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
For the Owiti sisters, however, the success was not built in a season. It was shaped over years, through sacrifice, setbacks, and an unbreakable understanding of each other. Their journey began at Sinyolo Girls High School in Nyanza, where hockey first became part of their lives. Although Alice was ahead in school, she made a decision that would come to define their bond.
“I decided to wait for my sister in Form Four so that we could sit our final exams together. We had been separated for a long time,” Alice says. That choice delayed her academic progress, but it ensured they moved forward together, something that would later define both their personal and sporting lives.
From Sinyolo, they joined Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) in Kakamega, and continued to play hockey alongside their studies. By then, their connection on the pitch was already evident.
Both play in midfield, occasionally dropping into defence, but it is their instinctive understanding of each other that sets them apart.
“I don’t even have to look up when passing the ball on the pitch. I always know exactly where Maureen will be,” Alice explains.
That chemistry, built over years of playing together, has often confused opponents and even teammates. What some once mistook for favouritism is, in reality, a rare level of coordination.
“She knows my movements, and I know hers. That’s something you can’t teach,” Alice says.
Their path into hockey was not without resistance. Alice had first switched from football to hockey and later encouraged Maureen to follow her. But their father initially opposed their involvement in the sport, warning that he would stop paying their school fee if they continued.
“When we went home for holidays, he told us to abandon hockey,” Maureen recalls.
Twins sisters Maureen Owiti (left) and Alice Owiti of Lakers Hockey Club.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
The turning point came in 2018, when the sisters earned an opportunity to travel to France after continental success. The experience broadened their horizons and changed minds at home.
“My father saw that hockey was helping us, and changed his mind,” she says.
From that point, their careers began to gather pace. Both joined Lakers Hockey Club in 2017 while still students and grew into a leadership role under coach Austin Tuju.
Maureen, now 26, rose through the national ranks, representing Kenya at under-18 and senior levels, with trips to countries including Ghana and England.
Yet even as their profiles grew, the challenges facing women’s hockey in Kenya remained.
“At one time, the men’s team was sponsored, but the women were left out,” Maureen says.
Like many players, the twins have had to balance sport with other responsibilities. Alice is a trained teacher with a Bachelor of Education in French and currently teaches at Ng’iya Girls High School. She also doubles as an assistant hockey coach at the school.
“My day begins in the classroom and ends on the turf. I prepare my lessons early and train after school,” Alice says.
Maureen, a community mobiliser, has followed a different academic path, studying social work while continuing to compete.
Hockey-playing twin sisters Maureen Owiti (left) and Alice Owiti at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Complex, Kisumu on May 18, 2024.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
The 2026 season brought everything into focus. At the Women’s Africa Cup for Club Champions in Harare, Lakers endured a gruelling journey of more than 3,000 kilometres by road, travelling from Kisumu through Nairobi and Dar es Salaam down to Harare. Fatigue and logistical challenges followed them into the tournament.
They lost their opening match to Ghana Revenue Authority but recovered with convincing wins to reach the final, where they faced the same opponents again.
This time, they held their nerve, coming from behind to force a penalty shoot-out and win the title.
Twin sisters Maureen Owiti (left) and Alice Owiti during a training session at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Complex, Kisumu on May 18, 2024.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
“Winning Women’s Africa Cup for Club Champions was a dream come true. Lifting the trophy as captain was unforgettable,” Alice says.
Weeks later, they completed the job at home, securing the league title against Blazers and confirming their dominance. For Maurine, the journey has not been without interruption. Injuries and a team ban in 2023 disrupted her progress, forcing her to balance recovery with work and family responsibilities.
Still, her ambitions remain firmly in place.
“I want to play in the Pro League and at the 2028 Olympic Games,” she says.
Alice, meanwhile, is looking beyond her own achievements.
“I want to mentor younger players so they believe they can succeed in both education and sport,” she says. The two insist they play hockey purely out of passion, as there is no financial reward in the local league.
