How the years fly past. Just the other day ‘92, I was a fresher during the 15th anniversary; now it’s already the 20th, all unbelievable. As captain, 1992-93 I took over a Machine in a state of flux, enough of the older players had already hung up their boots and a big number of the present were demoralized. This was quite understandable coming out of a bleak two years, 1991-1992, when...

Machine guys and the girls have always been a very touchy issue. We only talked about them, and that’s where it ended. Apart of course from a few “clandos” that some guys shared. We were always “the rough guys”. Ask Boni, Evan, Shebesh, Yakas, Sabwa, Bundux or even Bwaab, Rombo and Chiro. Most of these guys especially Joe, Bonnie, Olimba and Wawira have improved since col...

A newspaper article in the 90’s suggested that the culprits pictured below were former University of Nairobi students playing for Barclays Bank. The article went on to question how exactly these culprits would fit into the Barclays team, which suggests to this reporter that perhaps the true identity of these ruffians was suspect even then. Violation: Mean Machine players purporting to play...

We must humble ourselves and admit that Mean Machine was not always that embodiment of discipline and fraternity that we often prided ourselves on. We weren’t always model citizens. Sometimes even we acted out our frustrations; engaging in undesirable behaviour. This photo was taken by David Kihima and the caption read: “Five Mean Machine Players seen raining kicks and blows on a Nondies p...

This photo was taken at Lenana School Nairobi; previously Duke of York School, in front of Delamere House. While strictly speaking not an M File, I feel that this time and place in history resonates well with our Founding Era. Back: L to R: Chris Mayhew,David Mukii, Paul Jackson, Hilditch, Tsonga Seniour, Musundi Centre: L to R: Otolo, Steve Hoare, J. Simiyu, Anthony Orchardson Front L to R: Oder...

These mugshots first appeared in the Daily Nation on Saturday, 18th May, 1991. Despite the accompanying caption, some believe that these were mug shots of Kenya’s most wanted then. Violation: Unsavoury Looks Beverage awards available for any information leading to their capture. ...

Yes, you heard right, Machine now plays American Football. Now the question arises what would make a “sane” Machine player want to play a totally insane game. Get this, an offence of 11 guys who do all the attacking and a different set of 11 guys (defense) who only defend, a guy who makes all the passes….. all in the wrong direction, a mouthful of crazy calls, a field marked in yard...

This article first appeared in the Daily Nation in the mid 1980s and was written by Patrick Odongo. It was preserved for the Mean Machine Museum by Edwin Obuya in his infamous scrapbook. Our thanks to them both and to “Nigger”. Fred’s whereabouts are unknown, although he has been spotted around GPO in central Nairobi from time to time. ‘NIGGER’ – THAT’S FRED...