Kenya's ex-rugby international Allan Makaka dies in road accident

Xinhua
23 May 2020, 21:59 GMT+10

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's rugby fraternity is in mourning following the sudden death of former Kenya Sevens international Allan Makaka in a road accident.

Makaka, who was working for Royal Media Services, was killed when his vehicle rammed into a stationary trailer from behind on a deserted highway in the capital Nairobi on Friday. He was 37.

The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) confirmed his death on Saturday while leading tributes to the former international, who was hailed as one of the fastest wingers to ever wear the national team shirt.

"A warm individual off the pitch, Allan's death is indeed a huge loss to his family, friends, colleagues and the rugby fraternity," the KRU wrote in a statement.

Born on June 28, 1982, Makaka was a former Kenya Sevens international and was part of the squad that played at the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

He made a total of 57 appearances in the Sevens World Series, scoring 28 tries to rank 21st overall amongst Kenya's all-time try scorers in the World Series.

Fiji's sevens legend Waisale Serevi once described Makaka as one of the fastest players that he had ever come across.

"The Royal Media Services (RMS) family mourns the death of our colleague Allan Makaka following a tragic road accident on May 22, 2020. His family has lost a loving husband, father and son, while RMS and the world have lost a vibrant creative genius," his employers posted on Twitter as Kenyans took to social media to pay tribute to Makaka.

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