Kenya’s rugby fraternity is mourning the death of former Kenya Sevens and Impala RFC player Robert Aringo, a member of the Shujaa squad that delivered one of the country’s most iconic sporting moments at the 2016 Singapore Sevens.

Aringo, who was also known in rugby circles as “Majei,” died on June 7, 2026. He passed away just days before what would have been his 33rd birthday. The cause of death had not been publicly confirmed by the time of publication.

His death has drawn tributes from rugby fans, former teammates and clubs, with many remembering him as a committed servant of the game who represented both club and country with pride.

Aringo played for Impala RFC and was part of the Kenya Sevens setup during the 2015/2016 season, a period that remains deeply etched in the country’s rugby history.

Aringo’s name will forever be associated with the famous 2016 Singapore Sevens triumph, when Kenya stunned the rugby world by beating Fiji 30-7 in the Cup final. It was Kenya’s first-ever Cup title on the World Rugby Sevens Series and remains one of the greatest achievements in the country’s team sport history. World Rugby later described the win as a moment that would live long in memory, listing Aringo among the players who formed part of that remarkable squad.

That Singapore victory was more than a tournament win. It was a defining national moment. Under the late Benjamin Ayimba, Shujaa produced a fearless, disciplined and emotionally charged performance against one of the most decorated teams in world sevens rugby. The result elevated Kenya’s profile globally and gave a generation of players, including Aringo, a permanent place in the country’s sporting story.

Aringo’s rugby journey reflected the familiar path of many Kenyan players who built their careers through school, club and national team structures.

His profile lists St Mary’s School, Nairobi, and the Technical University of Kenya among his early institutions, while also noting that he developed an interest in rugby as a teenager.

At club level, he was associated with Impala RFC, one of the country’s traditional rugby institutions, before earning national recognition with Kenya Sevens. His call-up to the squad for the Hong Kong and Singapore legs in 2016 placed him in a group that went on to achieve what many had long believed was possible but had never been realized.

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