Four directors incorporated to Kenya Rugby Union board

Photo Credit: KRU

RUGBY Four directors incorporated to Kenya Rugby Union board

Mark Kinyanjui 13:30 - 22.05.2023

The four will be tasked with bringing their vast experience on board with their preceding reputations in efforts to help Kenyan Rugby get back on track.

The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has co-opted four members to its board of directors on Monday, just a day after Kenya Sevens lost its core status as a World Rugby Sevens Series team.

Alice Zawadi, Nisha Van Hoek, Wanjiku Wairia, and Kairo Thuo are the four newest directors who will be tasked with helping the new board apply its goals in efforts to help push Kenyan Rugby moving forwards.

Alice Zawadi is a World Rugby certified match official and currently serves as the national treasurer of the Kenya Rugby Referee Association.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Communication from the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.

She boasts vast experience in the public relations, communications, and administrative sectors and seeks to add her value to the Union.

Nisha Van Hoek is the founder and managing director of Advance Public Relations and Marketing.

She has extensive experience in the public relations and marketing space which has played a crucial role in the growth of brands such as Saj Ceramics, Galaxy Paints and Coatings, and Mabati Rolling Mills among others.

She was also instrumental in launching brands including, Evolution & Style – Jaquar World showroom in Kenya, Doshi Group of Companies building Hub, Saint Gobain, PG Bison, among others. 

Nisha successfully organized the merger of Mace Ymr, MML, and Turner & Townsend and prides herself in having managed media campaigns for Nikon, HP, CFAO, British Airways, and other companies.

Wanjiku Wairia is no stranger to rugby, and the Kenya Rugby Union, having previously served as the Kenya Sevens nutritionist and a member of the Safari Sevens Organizing Committee in years gone by.

She is an accomplished enterprise strategist with over two decades of experience in providing corporate advisory services to organizations in Eurasia and Pan-Africa.

Her experience spans government and corporate environments ranging from regulatory authorities, U.N. Partner Agencies, NGOs, and players in financial services, aviation, manufacturing, ICT, hospitality to the sports, and media sectors.

Kairo Thuo is a consultant and a founder partner of Viva Africa Consulting LLP and Viva Africa Consulting Limited. He is both a lawyer and accountant by profession and was previously responsible for establishing and running the Tax Transaction Advisory Group at Deloitte.

An alumnus of Strathmore and the University of Nairobi, Kairo has undertaken numerous merger and acquisition transactions, assisted many organizations in their structural re-organization as well as assisted in structuring many private and public transactions.

He currently serves as a director of NCBA Bank Ltd, Kenya Power & Lighting Company PLC, ICEA-Lion General Insurance Company Limited, ICEA-Lion Life Assurance Company Limited, ICEA-Lion Assets Management Limited and NCBA Investment Bank Limited.

He is also a member of the Capital Markets Financial Law Reform Panel and KEPSA Tax Law Reform Panel. He has previously served as Director of the Special Economics Zones Authority.

The four will be tasked with bringing their vast experience on board with their preceding reputations in efforts to help Kenyan Rugby get back on track.