Why rugby fans refer to Nakuru Rugby Football Club as 'Wanyore'
A Nakuru RFC player takes off with the ball during the match on February 4, 2023
Players at the Nakuru Rugby Football Club are commonly referred to as Wanyore.
During the game between Menengai Oilers and Wanyore last weekend, I got to ask some of the diehard supporters why their team was given a name that is of a subtribe of the Luhya community, found in Western Kenya.
Larry Okinyo, the co- founder of Nakuru RFC says he remembers vividly when the nickname Wanyore was hatched.
Larry Okinyi during an interview with Mtaa Wangu.
"It was during the captaincy of one Pascal Wetuha in 1995/ 1996 when the name Wanyore actually stuck. Pascal is from the Luhya community and a mnyore to be exact. As a way of cheering and hyping the team, the fans would always refer to him as mnyore. From then on, that slowly started becoming the identity of the team to the point that now the Nakuru RFC were known as Wanyore," he said.
The Nakuru RFC have been the pride of Nakuru city, having the most loyal fan base in the town.
During the loss to Oilers last weekend, some of fans could be heard chanting, "once a mnyore always a mnyore."
Larry laughs lightly and said that this cult-like support started way back.
"This club in itself started from a very humble beginning. We would call on friends and any other person who would like to play to come and join us. Together with Ham Onsando, we managed to build the club piece by piece with all those who were around us. Therefore, I think from that the tradition, the club's heritage has passed onto the fan base we have now," he said.
He concludes by saying that Nakuru RFC has a rich history and has proven beyond reasonable doubt a force to be reckoned with, within the rugby world.