If there’s one thing I’ve never doubted, I’ve never doubted the pleasure of a good time, an experience to reminisce over, desire even, a repeat of the same. And would it be the same, the second time? Now that I doubt. And how was the Dala 7s?
But the one thing bubbling over, I can’t say enough, is how memorable the Dala 7s weekend was. Now, as I sit back in my study listening B.B. King on his 100th birthday, blowing smoke to the ceiling and reminiscing over the entire weekend, and overwhelmed with the urge to share a little, I must apologize to my readers that I do not feel so competent, like the Bard of Avon, to give the full account.
From the journey from Nairobi, the TikoHUB Party Bus Experience, to the drama-filled games dogged by rivalry, and afterparties for the books, I’ll strive to give a superficial account.
Loading luggage onto the party bus in the deserted parking lot behind Nyayo House, before leaving for Kisumu, in my bones, I felt that big things were going down, even as we heaved and pulled the heavy road trunk up the carrier.
The beautiful Wamonje and her girlfriends had the groove on long before the city lights faded in the distance.
“Sherehe tayari!” This was the comment of one flustered by the excitement on the bus when the bus stopped to pick them up at Uthiru.
As he asked where to put his guitar, asking one of his companions where he’d placed his, I sought to be familiar. Yes, they were part of Coster Ojwang’s band, performing in the afterparty on Saturday: ‘Bassman’ Ian Owiti, Oloo Sule, and Byron Orore. And what a show they gave!
We arrived in Kisumu just when the moonlight faded away, to give rise to a bright sunny day, promising adrenaline-packed action in the field and intoxicating excitement in the stands.
People live their lives with the rule to satisfy, and the culmination, rival satisfaction to the rugby action came to the hilt, when KCB Rugby Club beat Strathmore Leos in the quarters, losing by one point, 15-14 in a decider match. Their former player, George Ooro, was the one who put the last nail in the coffin. Painful indeed!
“But this is sports, there’s always a next chance to go again,” said Scrum Shutter. “I must say that we have been entertained whenever these two met,” he added.
KCB went ahead to win the Dala 7s finals, beating archrivals Kabras RFC 12-7 in a tense rain-soaked final game, and also the 2025 National Circuit title, making them the most successful team in the competition’s 26-year history.
Then came the after-parties, and Clinton Onyango’s chants, beating onto the stout hide drums, accompanied by Orore on the set, and Owiti and Sule on the strings, got the crowd animated and ready, with tingles of goosebumps, for Coster’s showstopper.
“Nimemwona Collo, Collo yuko wapi,” he called to the marshals as the crowd went berserk and hoisted a gentleman in a wheelchair up in the air, chair and all. And that was Collo, to the front he was brought. Before I betray my excitement and share more, look out for an exclusive feature of Coster Ojwang and his band in this week’s Personality Gist.
As the curtain came down on the weekend and on the circuit on Sunday with Odongo Swag’s show, which saw the Kisumu deputy governor, Mathew Owilli, and his entourage jump on stage to put their best foot forward, rugby fans swore that the Safari 7s couldn’t come first enough.
