How Kevin Wekesa turned rugby platform into climate action force

Kenya Sevens forward Kevin Wekesa is making just as much impact off the field as on it, after earning global recognition for his environmental work through his Play Green initiative.

The Shujaa star was named a winner of the International Olympic Committee’s 2025 Climate Action Awards in the Athlete category. This major honour celebrates sports personalities using their influence to fight climate change.

For Wekesa, the award is not about personal praise but about pushing a message he believes is urgent.

“It’s humbling more than anything,” he said. “I don’t see myself as doing something extraordinary. Getting recognised gives credibility to the programme and opens up more opportunities. As athletes, we have a platform that reaches massive audiences every day. If we use that platform to push simple habits like reducing single-use plastic and planting trees, then we are already part of the solution.”

Play Green was born from Wekesa’s concern about the growing effects of climate change in Kenya, including rising temperatures and desertification that are already affecting communities and livelihoods.

Using rugby as an entry point, he has built a programme that mixes sport, education and practical action.

One of the key changes has been within Kenyan rugby itself. Play Green helped replace single-use plastic bottles with reusable aluminium bottles for Kenya’s national rugby teams, cutting out nearly 1,000 plastic bottles every week.

The initiative has also introduced recycling programmes at matches, including clearly marked bins and waste collection points to reduce landfill waste during rugby events.

Beyond elite sport, the project has a strong focus on schools and young people. Working with 40 schools, Play Green combines tree planting with lessons on water conservation, waste management and climate justice.

So far, more than 2,300 trees have been planted, with thousands of children reached through climate education activities linked to rugby outreach.

The programme is also expanding into clubs and federations, showing how sport can lead by example in protecting the environment.

Through Play Green, Wekesa is proving that a rugby player’s influence can stretch far beyond the try line, using the power of the game to build greener habits and a more responsible sporting culture.