Celebrating rugby player, coach Benjamin Ayimba

Friends, family members and fans of the late former Kenya Sevens head coach, Benjamin Ayimba, are on Wednesday celebrating his life at the RFUEA grounds in Nairobi.

On Tuesday, a requiem mass was held at Our Lady Queen of Peace, South B in Nairobi County. Father Jose Binu led the congregation through the first reading from the books of Wisdom 3:1-9 and Psalms 130: 1-8 and second reading from the book of Revelation 14:13 followed by John 11: 17-27.

Ayimba's wife, Caroline Waswa and former wife Lois Onyango, together with their children Brian, Gabriel, Keenan and Eli, attended the service though Ayimba’s body was not present.

Ayimba had been battling cerebral malaria when he died on Friday, May 21. 

He was admitted for the first time in January but was discharged, only to fall sick again and was readmitted in mid March.

Ayimba, who captained the national 15s and Kenya Sevens teams, is arguably the most successful sevens coach, having guided Kenya to their maiden victory in the World Rugby Sevens Series with victory at the 2016 Singapore Sevens.

Report by Ayumba Ayodi