Kenyan rugby star Mike Okombe stabbed to death following altercation with his girlfriend
The 27-year-old, last capped against Hong Kong in 2016, passes away after being stabbed in the chest
The Kenyan rugby fraternity has been hit by the tragic death of national player Mike Okombe, who was stabbed by his girlfriend on Saturday.
Kenya are due to arrive in Hong Kong this week for the four-team Cup of Nations competition.
Known for his sublime ball skills and flamboyant nature, the 27-year-old was killed following an argument during a friend’s birthday party on Saturday night, according to a report on Kenyan news site nation.co.ke.
“Mr Okombe and his lover, Ms Mary Anne Mumbi, were attending a birthday party of their friend, a Mr Okoth. The two had an argument before Ms Mumbi went for a knife, which she used to stab Mr Okombe to death,” Japhet Kioko of the Kenya Police Service told the Nairobi News.
Okombe last played a test match for Kenya against Hong Kong in Nairobi in August last year and was not named in the squad for the upcoming tour of Hong Kong.
Okombe’s death is not expected to impact Kenya’s trip to Hong Kong, where they take on Chile and the hosts play Russia in the first round of matches this Friday.
“It’s exceptionally sad news, our thoughts, like everybody in the rugby community, are with Kenya,” said Dai Rees, the Hong Kong Rugby Union’s chief rugby operations officer.
“We’ve got a very close relationship through the Hong Kong Sevens and more closely to their 15s over the last few years.
“We’re welcoming them to Hong Kong for the first time for the Cup of Nations and it’s just sad, sad news.
“We hope we can still have them over at the end of the week and we hope we can support them.”
Okombe was in the process of completing a move from club side Topfry Nakuru RFC to Kabras Sugar RFC ahead of the upcoming Kenya Cup season.
Topfry Nakuru released a statement, saying the “Nakuru rugby family is at great loss with the sudden passing of our brother Mike Okombe”.
“On Saturday November 4, Topfry Nakuru rugby management received news that Mike had been rushed to Valley hospital Nakuru in a critical condition,” the statement read.
“After receiving the news, management, players and some members of the coaching staff rushed to the hospital to ascertain Mike’s condition.
“After getting to the hospital, [we] were informed by the hospital management that Mike had succumbed and passed on due to some serious injuries caused by a stab on his chest.
“Due to the nature of the injuries the matter was reported to the police who have commenced investigation to ascertain the cause.”
