Former Harambee Stars, AFC Leopards Defender Dies

Former Harambee Stars, AFC Leopards and Tusker FC defender Richard 'Madez' Madegwa has died.

In a statement on Monday, September 28, former Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Wilfred Marori confirmed Madegwa's death, describing him as an important figure in the development of football in Kenya.

"It is very sad to learn that former Harambee Stars, Tusker FC, AFC Leopards defender Richard Madegwa has passed on," he wrote.

Marori said Madegwa remained active in the sport after retiring from playing and also played a role in efforts to improve football structures in the country.

"He was a coach who owned an academy and to his date, he was serving as the organising secretary of Kenya Federation coaches association (KECOFA). He was very instrumental in bringing football reforms in Kenya," he added.

Madegwa had a long association with Kenyan football, beginning his career as a defender before moving into coaching and football administration.

He played as a defender and fullback for AFC Leopards and Kenya Breweries, now Tusker FC.

Madegwa joined AFC Leopards in the late 1980s and was part of the team that won several major honours. 

His achievements with the club included the Kenya league title in 1989, the Super Cup and Moi Golden Cup in 1991, and another league title in 1992, according to his professional profile.

Madegwa also represented the Kenya national team, earning recognition as a former Harambee Stars defender.

After ending his playing career, he transitioned into coaching and became involved with KYSA International Soccer Academy, where he served as Director of Coaching.

Madegwa also served as an assistant coach of Kenya’s Under-17 national team and took charge of the Kenya National Deaf Futsal Team as head coach.

He later returned to AFC Leopards in 2014, taking up roles as team manager and youth-programmes coordinator as the club sought to strengthen its youth development structures.

Beyond his club and national-team roles, Madegwa served as the organising secretary of the Kenya Federation Coaches Association (KECOFA) and was also recognised by the National Heroes Council for his contribution to Kenyan football.

Elsewhere, University of Eldoret (UoE) Vice-Chancellor in charge of Planning, Research and Extension, Prof. Phillip Okoth Raburu, has died.

Raburu's death was confirmed on Monday, with family and members of the university community mourning his passing.

Willis Owino-Ong’or, who described Raburu as his first cousin, said the professor died at 4.30am at Eldoret Hospital after a battle with illness.

"It's a sad morning for me. I have lost my first cousin, son of my aunt, my brother in Christ and friend Prof Philip Raburu this morning at 4.30 am in Eldoret Hospital. He fought gallantly but God saw it fit to take him," he wrote.

Owino-Ong’or said Raburu had appeared to anticipate his death a day earlier, recalling words he repeatedly used while receiving care.

"Yesterday he kept saying he wanted to go 'home' but we didn't understand him. He knew. May God comfort his wife Elizabeth, children Jessie, Eugene, Steve and Joy plus the extended families," he added.