While in residential camp, the 1976 University of Nairobi rugby squad for the East Africa University games watched the 1974 Hollywood blockbuster “The Longest Yard”. Starring Burt Reynolds as Paul Crewe, the movie was about a convicted American Football player who despite having been asked by the wardens to throw the game in return for an early release, trained and led his fellow convicts towards becoming a formidable side called Mean Machine. Having come from a controlled background themselves, playing for teams of the old order that prevented them from fully exerting themselves, the story of this football team resonated well with the university lads. And so, that year, the rugby team took to the pitch, winning the intervarsity games rugby gold medal as University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine.

Over thirty years down the line, the Mean Machine has proved that like any well maintained machine, it has the resilience to withstand the test of time. With constant upgrades, the Mean Machine ensures that it is never rendered obsolete. So perpetual are these upgrades that the Mean Machine is guaranteed to have a new hub every year as students graduate while others enroll. Infused with new parts, the Mean Machine is always guaranteed one more year at full capacity.

The upgrades and new parts are harmonized to form one lean Mean Machine with the help of skilled hands that guide it towards realizing its full potential. Each cog is sculpted and designed by these skilled hands to withstand pressure and adapt to any and all conditions and fit perfectly into the rest of the Mean Machine.

Granted, once in a while the Mean Machine will have a few teething problems, but as soon as the system is well set and its different components jell, the new parts complement the old to run a well oiled Mean Machine. So it’s no wonder that when this well oiled Mean Machine takes to the battle ground, its roar is unmistakable. It is the roar of a Mean Machine geared up to face the unknown. It is the roar of a Mean Machine determined to use its components to achieve a common goal-victory. It is the roar of a Mean Machine that will run until the job is done.

The Mean Machine is set off by an inbuilt arrogance. When all the components of the Mean Machine begin to deem themselves indomitable, as they often do, it becomes impossible to convince it that a breakdown is the end of the road. And so the Mean Machine rises from the ashes like a phoenix to once again tackle the enemy. It is after all top of the line machinery with genuine parts and a life time guarantee…and no conditions apply.

Now as the Mean Machine thrives on its rich history; on that harmony that keeps it humming, that faith and trust that keeps its different elements together, we salute that first Mean Machine- the engine of the Mean Machine; the Mean Machine that inspired, set standards, challenged, encouraged and supported us all and ignited Kenyan Rugby.