HARRIET OKATCH
| AGE | 41 |
| GENDER | Female |
| OCCUPATION | Entrepreneur & Communications Strategist
|
Harriet Okatch is the new chairperson of the Kenya Rugby Union, making history as the first woman to lead the sports organisation.
Her unanimous appointment comes following the resignation of Chairman Alexander “Sasha” Mutai on Friday, 30th May at the RFUEA Grounds.
She was chosen over Vice Chairman Moses Ndale and 15s Rugby Director Moses Mukabane after both stepped down.
Education
Born and raised in Kisumu, Okatch has strong ties to the region. She attended Aga Khan Primary School in Kisumu County and Lwak Girls High School in Siaya County.
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Harriet Okatch is a Graduate of Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom. There, she studied International Relations and Mental Health.
Professional Background
Harriet is a Nairobi-based entrepreneur and communications strategist with over 15 years of experience in public and private sectors.
She has a political background, having contributed to strategic planning for former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero’s campaigns. She is no longer involved in politics.
Her expertise lies in sports marketing and event management, a role she has said has helped her prove everybody who doubted her for being a woman wrong.
Rugby Involvement
Harriet Okatch has never played rugby and was only introduced to the sport in 2013 by the late Fidel Odinga, the former Kisumu Rugby Club chairman.
Harriet was then working at the office of the Nairobi County Governor.
“After Fidel died in January 2015, I was approached to stay at the club where I was a committee member before transitioning to treasurer until I resigned in 2017 due to work commitments,” Okatch stated.
“When I was treasurer with Gedion Kidenda as chairman, we successfully hosted the Elgon Cup in Kisumu. I wanted to be part of the decision-making, and I contested as a KRU director during the March 2023 elections, and I got 22 votes, the highest among the board members elected. So I am not someone’s puppet on the board,” she added.
She was appointed Director of Marketing and Commercial Services, focusing on increasing the visibility of Kenyan rugby and securing partnerships.
Key Contributions
Okatch has played a significant role in promoting Kenya’s rugby, having been instrumental in launching KRU’s Talent Identification Programme, focusing on nurturing Under-18 and Under-20 players.
In 2023, Okatch played a pivotal role in ensuring that Kenya hosts the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy in Nairobi in 2023.
Okatch led efforts to enhance rugby’s visibility, including securing sponsorships like the Ksh22 million deal with Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) for the 2024 Safari Sevens.
Harriet’s advocacy was also crucial in advocating for hosting the 2024 Safari Sevens in Machakos to promote sports tourism beyond Nairobi.
Her efforts to promote rugby were recognised on the global stage, and she was elected as one of 12 African women for World Rugby’s Impact Beyond 2025 legacy project.
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They recognised her efforts to promote rugby and address social issues like gender-based violence and girl-child education through Kenya’s Unstoppable Rugby for Change initiative.
Harriet leads the KRU at a critical time, with the Kenya Lionesses competing in the 2025 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup (June 7–15, 2025) for a World Cup berth, the Shujaa team preparing for HSBC SVNS Division 2 in 2026, and the Kenya Simbas training in South Africa for the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
Harriet Okatch Goals
Okatch aims to unify the KRU board, players, and clubs following governance-related wrangles that led to Mutai’s resignation.
She also aims to attract more partners to fund KRU leagues, national team programs, and grassroots initiatives to ensure the sustainability and growth of rugby in Kenya.
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