Police probe murder of Kenyan rugby star Okombe

Police probe murder of Kenyan rugby star Okombe

Police are  investigating the circumstances that led to the death of a Kenya rugby fifteens player Mike  Shitindo Okombe, 27, who was allegedly stabbed to death by his girlfriend on Saturday night in Nakuru .

Okombe, a former Kenya Simbas national player plied his trade at Nakuru RFC where he played as a flanker and was set to complete a move to Kabras Sugar.

According to Rongai OCPD Josephat Kioko, Okombe was fatally stabbed on Saturday night by a 37 year old woman  at Olive restaurant while attending a friend’s birthday party.The woman, who is alleged to be his wife, is on the run.

 “The person who did the incident, that is the wife, escaped, we are still looking for her. I hope we are going to get her soonest,”the OCPD told Citizen Digital.

Okombe featured for the national fifteens rugby team in 16 test matches between 2013 and 2016, and  was part of the squad that narrowly failed to qualify for the 2015 rugby World Cup in England.

Okombe
Mike Okombe in a past match .PHOTO/COURTESY.

Okombe renowned for his ball carrying skills and tenacity as a flanker played his last match for the Simbas in Kenya’s 34 – 10 victory over Hong Kong.

He began his club career at Western Bulls before joining Top Fry Nakuru where he won back- to- back Kenya Cup titles during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

The star had been out of action at the time of his death recovering from knee surgery and was on the brink of a major move to former Kenya Cup champions Kabras Sugar.

The Kenya Rugby Union chairman Richard Omwela led in paying tribute to Okombe, saying he was “uncompromising on the field, but quiet, unassuming and loved off the field. His death is a big blow to the Kenyan rugby fraternity,”Omwela mourned.

Simbas team manager Simiyu Wangila said, “It is a very devastating loss, the squad is still coming to terms with the news of Mike’s death. He was an instrumental part of this team and will surely be missed. We had intended for him to join up with the team after our tour of Hong Kong but tragically this will not happen. Every game we play in Hong Kong will be in Mike’s memory.”

His Simbas team mate Darwin Mukidza said,  “He was very dependable, fierce and loyal. We were looking forward to his return but have been hit hard by the news of his demise. While its hard to comprehend, it fires us up to work hard and dedicate every performance to our fallen lion because Mike was the kind of person who gave his all whenever he was called upon.”

Okombe’s death is the third in 2017 after that of KCB’ James Kilonzo and Homeboyz Andrew Wekesa, who were killed in crime-related incidents.

Additional reporting by Benson Mbare

Tags:

Police Nakuru. Kenya Simbas Mike Okombe

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