Harriet Achieng Okach made history on June 5 when she was appointed the new chairperson of Kenya Rugby Union, becoming the first woman to head the sports body. She replaced Sasha Mutai, who resigned during a Special General Meeting that intended to table a motion of no confidence in him. Ayumba Ayodi sought to find out who the new sheriff was and her thoughts and dreams on the game, whose administrative side is undergoing trying times at the moment.
Did your appointment come as a surprise, and how did it feel being a woman taking charge of what is regarded as a gentleman’s game? And a game that is seemingly in turmoil?
It was a little bit of a surprise, but not much because in the brand, we got to learn about each other, our strengths and weaknesses. We were focused on unity because wrangles had created rifts.
I can crack jokes, but be serious when it comes to delivery. I focus on doing what is right and what I believe in. There is no gender issue on the board. I call for leadership to supersede so many things. I was engaged in national politics, but not now.
I worked with Evans Kidero as his finance and campaign manager when he was elected Nairobi Governor in 2013.
Some of my friends will tell you I was a softie when Kidero engaged me because I had just returned from the United Kingdom less than two years earlier, and I knew little about politics and Nairobi.
I was British-polite and straight, having left the country when I was 18 years old. It was baptism by fire, but I managed to swim from the deep end.
Politics taught me to be impartial and a good listener so that you are able to make wise decisions. That has helped me in rugby, especially in the board games, where there were so many accusations flying around.
People think that, as I am a woman, I am not supposed to be at the helm, but people will be surprised by what I can achieve. I have built individual relations with everyone on the board, KRU secretariat and the clubs, which is what made it easier for my appointment.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairman Sasha Mutai (centre), KRU Director of Squads Moses Mukabane (right) and Commercial Director Harriet Okach during the unveiling of Kenya Sevens technical bench at Kiganjo House, Hurlingham on August 4, 2023.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Who is Harriet Achieng Okach?
I am over 40 and a mother. I am an international relations and mental health graduate from Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom and an entrepreneur too. Away from the profession, my other interests are rugby and football. I am an alumna of Aga Khan Primary School and Kisumu, and Lwak Girls, Siaya.
How did your rugby journey start?
I have never played rugby in my life. I was introduced to rugby by former Kisumu Rugby Club chairman and patron Fidel Odinga, who wanted me to help him around 2013.
I was then working at the office of the Nairobi County Governor. After Fidel died in January 2015, I was approached to stay at the club where I was a committee member before transitioning to treasurer until I resigned in 2017 due to work commitments.
When I was treasurer with Gedion Kidenda as chairman, we successfully hosted the Elgon Cup in Kisumu. I wanted to be part of the decision-making organ, and all went well then.
I contested as a KRU director during the elections in March 2023, and I got 22 votes, the highest among the board members elected. So I am not someone’s puppet on the board. It was a board resolution to implement the chairman’s 2024/2028 strategic plan.
We were united, harmonious and decisions made at the board were decisive. Then wrangles started. Not even a committee made of eminent people comprising some past chairmen, picked to mediate and resolve things. Trouble broke out again, with many court cases being filed.
But again, we have achieved a lot. As a director of commercials, and as a team, we helped bring back the sponsors who had quit by instilling confidence in them. We have SportPesa, Tusker, Kenya Airways, Crown Paints and Safaricom’s M-Pesa.
Harriet Achieng Okach during a past event at the EABL offices in Nairobi on September 24, 2024. She is the new Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairperson replacing Sasha Mutai who resigned on May 30, 2025.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
There has been a barrage of reactions, both positive and negative. Everybody seems to have a comment about you.
Coming from public relations, no news is bad news, especially when you are at the helm. It depends on how you use it. It can work for and against you. For me, I have received “all the greetings” from social media with humility and gratitude.
At least they all have my numbers, and it will be good for communication. I will be happy to pick up and answer, but I won’t take nonsense. I have asked God for wisdom and grace. God has been faithful.
We know what we want to achieve as a board, and we shall stick to the plan. Let us do it for these players and clubs.
Speaking of which, what are your short and long-term plans for the game?
I want to make sure the board and clubs are united. I want to listen to their issues and see how best to solve them. We are now speaking with one voice on the board. We are consulting each other more.
I won’t push any agenda down the throat of other members, hence it will have to be a board decision. We have a plan even though Sasha Mutai, who was part of it, is no longer on the board.
We shall adopt the new KRU constitution that was completed last November. It had input from the clubs, government, past chairmen and rugby legends. It has sub-unions that people are fighting about. The previous constitution gave some institutions much power.
My long-term plan is to give rugby its lost glory. Power should be with the affiliates, not the board. We need more sponsors in all our leagues and national teams.
Our leagues need live coverage in the mainstream media. I want the main product that we have, the players, to get what they deserve: the global stage, permanently.
I won’t lie to anyone that I am technical. Everybody has their own strength, but when we work in unity, we shall achieve a lot.
What is your take on the wrangles that had rocked the board, where there were accusations of corruption, certificate forgeries and conflict of interests on service delivery?
Investigations are going on, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers have picked the cases. People need to allow for investigations to be completed. The issue of term limit was clarified, which looks at our constitution vis-à-vis when the Sports Act 2013 came into play.
Kenya Rugby Union Chairperson Harriet Achieng Okach at RFUEA ground after watching the National team training on June 10, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
As board members, we must be cautious in what we do and the message we send to members. Arrogance can’t take us anywhere when we know that some of these clubs that have no sponsors are the ones that elected us.
We must be respectful and do what is right. We, the board, we the union, we the fans, we the stakeholders, are not the product that the sponsors will come for, but the players. If we truly love the game, let us silence the noise.
