Rugbydicted Magazine: The Engineer Who Tackles for the Planet: Kevin Wekesa’s Quiet War

From building scrums to building a greener future, Shujaa’s quiet giant is tackling more than just opponents.

On the pitch, Kevin Wekesa looks like he was built for collisions — tall, broad, and unshakable. In Shujaa colours, he’s the man you send into traffic when the scoreboard is tight and the clock is running out.

Off it? You might find him bent over a mechanical drawing or planting a sapling in the middle of a dusty schoolyard, smiling quietly as children dart around him.

That’s Wekesa — an enforcer in rugby, an engineer by training, and now, a voice for the environment.

From Kakamega to Kabras

It all began at Kakamega High School, a breeding ground for Kenyan rugby greats. By the time he left, Wekesa had the kind of presence that made coaches take notice.

Kabras Sugar RFC came calling, and in a team already built on power, he still managed to stand out. No wasted movement, no unnecessary drama — just clean, efficient rugby.

Shujaa’s quiet giant

In the chaos of sevens rugby, Wekesa is the calm in the storm. He doesn’t chase cameras or showboating moments. Every carry, every hit, is calculated. While others play for the highlight reel, he plays for the win.

The engineer’s touch

Away from rugby, Wekesa studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Kenya. Where some might see rugby and academics as worlds apart, he saw the connection — both demand precision, planning, and the ability to deliver under pressure.

That same mindset would shape his next step.

Play Green — from the tackle line to the tree line

In 2023, he launched Play Green with Kevin Wekesa. Its mission rests on four pillars: tree planting, education, recycling, and ending single-use plastics.

He has already planted over 1,500 trees. He’s equipped his Shujaa teammates with reusable bottles, cutting thousands of plastic bottles from their waste. And he’s taken his message into schools, not as a sports star giving a speech, but as a man who believes in looking after the ground you grow on.

A global nod

This year, his work earned him a nomination for the 2025 Sport Positive Awards in the Next Generation Trailblazer category. The final shortlist will be confirmed on August 29, with winners announced on October 7.

Whether he wins or not, the recognition shows his vision reaches far beyond Kenya’s try lines.

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The reluctant enforcer

Ask Wekesa about all this — the rugby, the engineering, the environmental work, the global nomination — and he’s likely to shrug it off. “I’m just doing my job,” he’ll say.

The truth is, his job isn’t just about the next tackle anymore. It’s about leaving the pitch, and the planet, better than he found them.

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