How broken league is derailing Kenya Lionesses' future

Janet Okello (C) of Kenya Lionesses fights for ball posession with Namabiro Lydia (Left) and Namukatwa Fazira of Uganda during the 27th edition of the 2025 Safari Sevens Tournament at Nyayo National Stadium on October 11, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard] The warning signs are no longer subtle. They are loud, frustrating, and increasingly difficult to ignore. Kenya's women's rugby is slipping, and the cracks are beginning at home. For years, the country has proudly held its place among Africa's strongest women's rugby nations, ranked second on the continent behind South Africa and sitting 20th globally according to World Rugby rankings. But since the start of the 2025-2026 calendar, the momentum appears to have stalled. A delayed domestic league, poor funding structures, and inconsistent player development are now showing up on the international stage. The recent struggles during the opening leg of the HSBC SVNS Division Two in Nairobi, where Kenya managed just one win in five matches, have exposed deeper systemic problems. Behind the disappointing results lies a domestic competition fighting to survive. Weeks of postponements pushed the Women's Kenya Cup to start far later than scheduled. With minimal funding, limited structure, and little visibility, players entered national duty poorly prepared. And inside the dressing rooms, frustration is growing. One of the senior national team players, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, did not hold back. "We don't have enough competitive games as the men do," she said. "Even small things like allowances, transport to training, food after sessions, and proper kits are missing. Women can't fully focus on rugby because there is nothing motivating us." Her words paint a reality far removed from Kenya's global ranking. She added that the problem begins at the administrative level and filters directly to performance. "It starts from the office and trickles down to performance. If they support the girls with funds, even small things like fare to training, you will see different results," she said. READ: Kenya Lionesses suffer narrow 5-0 defeat to Argentina in Nairobi The gap between ambition and reality is also evident at the club level. At Mwamba RFC, women's head coach Joseph Odindi says the domestic structure is simply not competitive enough to produce elite players. "We have a number of challenges," Odindi explained. Kenya Lionesses players during training session at Kasarani Annex on May 09, 2024. [File, Standard] "First is competition. The ladies play very few games, and that weakens our league. We need more fixtures so players accumulate minutes, and that will improve quality." Without regular competition, sponsorship also becomes difficult. "With fewer games, there is less viewership. That makes it unattractive for potential sponsors," he said. Odindi also pointed to technical gaps that continue to affect player development. "Most ladies' teams are trained by either injured men players or reserve players instead of certified coaches. That affects quality. Even officiating is sometimes a challenge because some referees are not fully comfortable with the women's game," he explained. The challenges extend beyond match day. Consistency in training remains a major issue, largely due to financial struggles among players. "It is very difficult to get full attendance in training sessions because players lack transport money. Resources also tend to favour the men's teams," he added. Despite the challenges, Odindi believes structural reforms could quickly improve standards. He proposes a redesigned competition system with home-and-away fixtures, a second-tier development league, and incentives for champions. "Transport and accommodation subsidies for travelling teams would ensure fixtures are honoured. If the league becomes competitive, fans will come, and sponsors will follow," Odindo added. The grassroots pipeline presents another concern. Western Region Rugby Development Officer Shirly Anindo says the sport is still battling low participation numbers among girls, especially at school level. "Fewer girls are entering rugby compared to boys due to limited exposure and misconceptions about the sport," Anindo said. She emphasised that development must begin earlier if Kenya hopes to remain competitive internationally. "We need structured school programmes, rugby clinics tailored for girls, and non-contact formats like touch rugby to introduce the game safely," Anindo said. Anindo also highlighted the shortage of female coaches and referees, a factor affecting both quality and retention. "There are limited pathways for women into coaching and officiating. Creating scholarships and mentorship programmes would help grow technical expertise within the women's game," she said. Funding, however, remains the biggest obstacle. ALSO READ: Who will stop rampant Kenya Lionesses in Africa Women's 7s? "Women's rugby receives a smaller share of facilities, sponsorship, and media coverage. Aligning women's matches with men's fixtures and strengthening storytelling through media can improve visibility," Anindo said. Retention is another emerging issue. According to Anindo, many players drop out in their late teens due to financial pressures and unclear career pathways. "Without structured progression from school to club to elite level, players lose motivation," she said. While criticism continues to mount, administrators insist that steps are being taken to rebuild the structure. Kenya Rugby Union chairperson Harriet Achieng acknowledges that women's rugby has historically been underfunded but says reforms are underway. "Women's rugby has long been treated as an add-on, and that is a reality we are deliberately working to change," Achieng said. She explained that the union is now packaging women's rugby as a standalone product covering sevens, fifteens, school competitions, and domestic leagues to attract sponsors. "This allows partners to clearly see the value and impact of their investment," said Achieng. Achieng also revealed plans to ring-fence funding specifically for women's programmes to avoid disruptions caused by competing priorities. "Protected funding lines and dedicated commercial partnerships are part of our strategy moving forward," said the KRU boss. The union is also targeting stronger development pathways starting at the grassroots level. Lionesses' Captain Sheila Tabira in their match against TUKS 7s during the 2023 Safari 7s tournament at RFUEA ground on Nov 18, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] "Our focus is building consistent structures from schools to high-performance environments. Performance outcomes will follow consistency," she said. Still, the current results suggest that progress may not be happening fast enough. Kenya's ranking remains respectable, but rankings alone cannot mask structural weaknesses. A delayed league, minimal match exposure, limited funding, and inconsistent technical support are now translating into underwhelming performances internationally. The recent showing in Nairobi was particularly symbolic: playing at home yet struggling to compete. Kenya continues to produce talented athletes, but talent without structure rarely survives at the elite level. Until the domestic league becomes stable, competitive, and properly funded, the national team will continue to carry the burden of systemic gaps. For the players, the dream remains alive but fragile. "We love the game," the anonymous player said quietly. "But passion alone cannot carry women's rugby forever."

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