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{
"id": 1073865,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1073865/?format=api",
"text_counter": 32,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13131,
"legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
"slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the same year, he led Shujaa to its maiden Rugby World Cup Sevens Semi-Final in Dubai. The second attempt was at Kenya Sevens head coach between 2015 and 2017. He coached the team to its first ever appearance at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and strived to promote grassroots rugby. He was part of the first ever successful Kitui Sevens in 2018. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the foregoing achievements are no small feat. The late Benja ventured in the rugby sport both as a player and a coach at a time when Kenya like several other developing countries continue to lag behind other established rugby nations like South Africa, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Needless to say, he was the only Rugby Sevens coach who was relieved of his duties in 2011 and reinstated in 2015. Despite these setbacks, he carried on and led the team to win the 2016 World Sevens Title in Singapore where the Kenyan team beat Fiji 30-7. That was a very serious achievement that remains in the history books of this country. In that case, we salute the strength and persistence of this fallen hero. He was a pacesetter and a good example and to other talented and upcoming rugby sportsmen. He was, indeed, a classic example of resilience, following passion and talent against all odds. We also laud the late Ayimba and his associates on their aspiration to give back to the community, his vision to establish an age grading rugby academy in Nyanza region aimed at tapping talent at the grassroots is one that must not only be appreciated, but must also be supported to its successful fruition. Mr. Speaker, Sir, his mixed achievements and many more, some of which I may not be able to highlight at this time, the Committee wishes to remember the late Benjamin Ayimba as one who, indeed, gave back to his country. An outstanding Kenyan whose efforts to grow personal talent, to mentor young people; he really mentored everyone he came across who was younger than him on and off the pitch, and to give back to community, did well to show patriotism. One of the key pillars of good governance as espoused in Article 10(2) of the Constitution of Kenya, that defines the late Ayimba’s legacy and signature. In the writings of Aristotle, he wrote, “Man is at his best when he is doing his best at what he likes doing best.” Indeed, the late Ayimba is one of those men whose achievements will remain engraved in the annals of history. He is among the few who applied this philosophy as the centrepiece of his life, with passion, firmness of purpose and tenacity being his firm foundation, no matter the insurmountable journey. Mr. Speaker, Sir, to those of us who interacted with him, he was a beacon of hope in sports mentorship. We will have a reservoir of memories, of his selflessness; an example that will live on until the end of time. As a matter of fact, when the history of Kenyan Rugby is written, the man Benjamin Ayimba will find a chapter and a place. Literally, he is gone, but his mark on rugby will endure the test of time. Mr. Speaker, Sir, having played his best, Benja is at peace. I would like to thank all Kenyans who followed the appeal that we had made and contributed to his medical costs, which had run out of insurance and everything. I particularly thank His Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta who responded to my call for help and donated Kshs1 million. I also want to thank the Right Hon. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who also"
}