Brian Wahinya: How a 'too skinny' boy became a Kenyan rugby star

KCB fly half Brian Wahinya in past action. [KCB Rugby]

At just 50kg, Brian Wahinya was once considered too small to play rugby.

Growing up in Nyalenda, Kisumu, he had never handled a rugby ball. His dream was to become a footballer. But fate had other plans.

Today, Wahinya, popularly known as ‘Jonde’, is one of Kenya’s accomplished fly-halves, a key player for KCB and the Kenya Simbas who has built a reputation for clever play, precise kicking and tactical awareness.

His rise from the informal settlements of Kisumu to the top tier of Kenyan rugby is a story of opportunity seized and setbacks overcome.

It all started at St Mary’s School Yala, where Wahinya spent his secondary school years between 2012 and 2015.

“I was told I was too skinny to play the game. Before joining St Mary’s Yala, I knew nothing about rugby. However, when I saw how passionate the guys who used to play rugby were, I was drawn to the sport. Even though I weighed 50kg, I knew I would become a superstar,” Wahinya said in a podcast.

His breakthrough came in Form Three after one of the school’s fly-halves was suspended. Wahinya stepped in and immediately showed he belonged.

He helped Yala reach the KSSSA national Sevens competition in 2013. The following year, their campaign ended at the regional stage after defeat by Homa Bay High School.

But by then, Wahinya had already fallen in love with the sport.

Yala’s rich rugby tradition also inspired him. The school had produced several players who had gone on to make their mark nationally, including Lavin Asego, Kevin Keegan, Levy Amunga and Geoffrey Okwach.

His current KCB teammate Stephen Osumba also came through the institution.

“Many rugby legends went to St Mary’s School. This showcases the rich rugby history in the school, and I am proud to have been part of it,” he said.

Interestingly, the player who would eventually become a fly-half began his rugby career as a scrum-half.

His small frame worked in his favour at number 9, where speed and agility were important. But Curtis Olago, then his coach at Yala, saw something different in him and moved him to No.10.

It was a decision that would define Wahinya’s career.

After completing school, he received advice to continue his studies and rugby in Nairobi. Before joining university, however, coach Nick Ambok brought him into the senior game at Impala Rugby Club.

There, Wahinya got his first taste of tough club rugby and helped Impala win the Eric Shirley Shield and Nakuru 10s.

Kenyatta University soon followed.

“I was told to go to a university in Nairobi if I wanted to play rugby and study Sports Science,” he recalled.

Wahinya represented KU from 2016 to 2021, sharing the field with players such as Levy Amunga and Rocky Aguko, while Sunlight Mulama served as team manager.

His rise through the ranks continued. In 2017, he entered the Kenya Sevens academy set-up alongside the likes of Johnstone Olindi and Vincent Onyala.

A year later, while playing for KU, he earned a Kenya Sevens opportunity under coach Paul Treu.

Then came a major setback. A knee injury suffered during the Vancouver Sevens interrupted his progress. Soon after, the Covid-19 pandemic shut down rugby, forcing another unwanted pause.

When the game resumed, Wahinya returned with a different challenge ahead of him.

He moved into 15s rugby and joined the Kenya Simbas, featuring in South Africa and in Rugby World Cup qualification matches.

It was another important stage in his development, but his club career was also changing.

After five years at KU, Wahinya felt ready for a bigger challenge. The move to KCB reunited him with Olago, the coach who had first converted him into a fly-half at Yala.

“I felt it was the right time to transition. The call from Curtis Olago gave me confidence, and I felt wanted,” he said.

At KCB, Wahinya found an environment that matched his ambitions.

“I love KCB because the players are well taken care of. There is competition and the set-up is professional. At KCB, you meet the best players in the country,” he said.

The move has paid off with three National Sevens Circuit titles, alongside Floodlit and Enterprise Cup success.

But amid the trophies are moments that still hurt.

The 2026 Kenya Cup final against Kabras Sugar is one Wahinya would rather forget. KCB dominated several areas of the match, particularly the scrums, breaks and general play, but failed to make its chances count through the boot.

“We had an edge over Kabras as we dominated the scrums, breaks and gameplay, but they took advantage of the kicks, where KCB did not deliver, specifically me,” he said.

Wahinya had gone into the final confident about his kicking.

“I was certain I could convert the penalties, but I was shocked they could not go in. I could not explain it.”

The disappointment followed the team back to Nairobi.

“The journey back to Nairobi was a sad one. We had given our all. They told me it was okay, but it was a long journey. I