Burial plans for late Benjamin Ayimba announced

Former Kenya Sevens coach Benjamin Ayimba in a past match. [File]

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has confirmed that former Kenya Rugby Sevens Coach Benjamin Ayimba will be laid to rest on Friday, June 11, 2021 in Siaya County.

According to KRU's website, a requiem mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Nairobi on Tuesday 8 June from 12 pm.

Then on Wednesday 9 June, from 12 pm to 2 pm, the public will get the opportunity to pay their last respect to the late Ayimba at RFUEA Ground in Nairobi.

The body will then be taken to his native home in Alego, Siaya County where he will be buried.

Covid-19 protocols will be observed during all the events.

Ayimba died on Friday, May 21st at a Nairobi hospital after battling cerebral Malaria for close to two months.

Ayimba played for Impala as a rookie (back row) in 1995 after completing his school studies and went on to captain the Red Shirts to two Kenya Cups, Enterprise Cups and Floodlit tournaments in 2000 and 2001.

He also inspired the team to three National Sevens Circuit titles between 1999 and 2001.

He then moved to record Kenyan champions Nondescripts in 2002 before joining English side Cornish Pirates the following year.

Before venturing into coaching, Ayimba had featured for Shujaa at the 1998,2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games as well as the 2001 and 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments in Argentina and Hong Kong respectively.

He then had a short coach/player role for the Simbas before serving as Shujaa coach between 2006 and 2011 after succeeding his Impala’s Bill Githinji.

He also led Kenya to a maiden main HSBC Series World title in Singapore in 2016.