From Nakuru to the national team: The rise of brothers John Okoth and Philip Okeyo in Kenyan rugby

John Okoth first picked up a rugby ball at New Life Academy in 2010. He never imagined that, one day, he would share a pitch with his younger brother, Philip Okeyo, playing for Menengai Oilers.

What began as curiosity soon turned into opportunity.
By 2013, Okoth had toured France with the Kenya Under-15s, an experience that opened his eyes and shaped his ambitions.

Rugby later funded his education at Nakuru Day High School, and by 2018, fresh out of school, he made his Kenya Cup debut for Nakuru RFC.

After three successful seasons, Okoth moved to Menengai Oilers, opening a new chapter of competition and, eventually, brotherhood.

For Okeyo, following Okoth’s path felt natural. They both trained in the Nakuru RFC Age Grade system, wore the same school jersey and shared the same dream. Okeyo says that playing together feels special. “We complement each other. I understand Okoth’s game better than anyone.”

However, their bond has been tested when they were on opposite sides. While Okoth played for the Oilers, Okeyo played for the Nakuru RFC, which placed the brothers on opposing sides.

“On the field, you can’t hold back, not even with your brother. Maybe you tackle more gently, but you never avoid it,” admits Okoth.

“But when one of us gets injured, it hurts the other too.”  Okeyo says that his brother's setbacks and comebacks feel personal to the whole family, including their younger brother, Joel, who is currently at Nakuru RFC.

The Okoth–Okeyo duo has drawn comparisons with Kenya’s iconic rugby siblings, Collins Injera and Humphrey Kayange, who played for Mwamba RFC and the national sevens team.

Alongside their younger brother, Michael Agevi, they represented Kenya in the 2014 World Rugby Sevens Series in the USA and New Zealand.

The two older brothers hope to recruit Joel to establish their own family dynasty. They have both already received call-ups to the national team, and they believe it is only a matter of time before the three of them line up together for Kenya.

“Joel is talented. Our dream is to see all three of us in the national team,” says Okeyo.

Okeyo lived up to this dream when he played alongside his brother in the senior team during his Oilers debut at the Prinsloo Sevens. He scored a try for his new team, which he joined this year.

"It's an emotional moment for me. I thought maybe I would play with my brother in the national team one day, but not here and not this soon. It was God’s timing,” he notes.

Beyond rugby, the brothers' relationship is filled with playful banter. Okoth insists that he is the better cook and dresser, while Okeyo calls himself the prank master, recalling how he once tricked Okoth into believing that their house had been robbed while he was in South Africa.

They even toy with the idea of starting a joint vlog to share their lives off the pitch. Yet rugby remains their core focus. Okoth has already competed at the Olympics and is aiming to return in 2028. Okeyo, on the other hand, has played for Kenya’s Under-20s and earned his first call-up to the senior team in 2024.

Together, they are mentoring Joel, determined to help him reach new heights.

"Joel must represent the national team at some point,” says Okeyo firmly.

For Nakuru fans, watching the Okoth–Okeyo brothers evolve into leaders at Menengai Oilers is a source of immense pride. If their dream comes true, Kenya may soon witness another sibling dynasty, born and bred in Nakuru but destined for the world stage.