-It was a two-day thriller split into two batches of 18 holes each day, Friday’s first flight and Saturday’s main field, ensuring every golfer had a fair chance on the par-71 coastal layout that overlooks the Indian Ocean.
-Sotet Captain Willy Sang lauded the success of the 2026 edition, noting that the two-day format was forced by growth and is now here to stay and thanked all players’ guests and the sponsors for the success of the tournament.
-Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) PLC Chief Executive Officer Capt. William Ruto, who was the chief guest in the evening joined the golfers during the prize giving dinner at the Club house garden for the event that also served as a platform for networking, cultural exchange and regional integration.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS.
Mombasa Golf Club, founded in 1911 and one of the oldest courses in East Africa, turned into a sea of white and a festival of Kalenjin culture at the weekend as the 4th Edition of the Sotet Golf Tournament teed off in spectacular fashion.
Played over two days, Friday 9th and Saturday 10th October 2026, the tournament branded as ‘A Two Day Thriller’ lived up to its billing, drawing 205 players from across the country, the largest field ever for the series.
To accommodate the massive entry, the field was split into two batches of 18 holes each day, Friday’s first flight and Saturday’s main field, ensuring every golfer had a fair chance on the par-71 coastal layout that overlooks the Tudor Creek.
The tournament, organized by ‘Sotet Golfers,’ the vibrant association of Kalenjin golfers who carry the iconic ‘Sotet,’ the traditional gourd used to store mursik as their symbol, was more than just golf, but a celebration of unity, heritage and the rich culture of the Kalenjin community.
Players travelled from Nairobi, Kisumu, Kitale, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nandi Hills, Kakamega, Mombasa itself and all the Coast Golf Clubs, but the roll-call was led by a massive 40-man contingent from Kericho, the heartland of Kalenjin golf, who arrived in style to stamp their authority at the Coast.
Dressed in the strict ‘All White’ dress code, the fairways at the Seafront course looked like a gallery of champions.
White caps, white shirts, white trousers against the lush green of the Club and the blue ocean in the background made for a postcard finish that photographers loved.
This year’s edition was backed by a strong stable of corporate sponsors who showed faith in the Sotet brand.
The sponsors line-up included Sidian Bank, Linia Pipes, Co-op Bank, Tipsy Turtle, Fly 748, Kericho Gold, Safaricom, Hotel Sapphire, Mira Heights, Climate and Grow Ventures, Credit Bank, Avion Energy, Finlays, ARTHA, Stima Sacco, Midella, Fairway, Sala and The Glenlivet, a clear sign of how the tournament has grown into a national sporting calendar event.
Action on the course was tight from the first tee on Friday morning where the coastal wind tested many upcountry players, while the flat but tricky greens at the course demanded precision putting.
Saturday’s leaderboard saw dramatic swings as the Rift Valley group, accustomed to high-altitude golf, battled sea-level humidity and caddies who know every slope.
At the end of the two-day thriller, handicap 28 Jerry Njiiru emerged the overall winner after a clinical display of composure and cultural pride, carrying the Sotet trophy that has become coveted in amateur golf circles.
Njiru produced a masterclass at the sea-level course to lift the overall crown, of the two-day cultural thriller after amassing an excellent 44 Stableford points to top the mammoth field.
“I want to thank Mombasa Golf Club for the warm hospitality, all our sponsors who made this possible, and every player who came, especially the 40 warriors from Kericho who travelled all the way to Mombasa. This win means more than a trophy. Winning the 4th Edition of Sotet here in Mombasa, wearing all white and surrounded by 205 brothers and sisters from across Kenya, is a blessing. Sotet is not just a gourd, it is our heritage. It carries culture, unity and resilience as Kalenjin people. This victory is for all Sotet Golfers,” said Njagi.
The tournament that was a festival of golf and Kalenjin heritage, with players adhering to the strict ‘All-White dress code’ that turned the fairways into a stunning gallery, saw in the main prizes, handicap 20 Bharat Chavda declared Male winner with 40 points on countback, edging handicap 25 Dr. Steve Ibua who settled for runner up slot and handicap 28 Allan Mwangi was third with 38 points.
In the ladies’ category, handicap 35 Caroline Njoroge stole the show with 43 points to be crowned the winner.
Handicap 35 Gertrude Mwenda was runner up with 41 points, followed by handicap 28 Eunice Masila on 36 points.
The senior and junior stars were not left behind as veteran handicap 18 Johnson Wamunyua carded 34 points to win the Senior prize, while promising handicap 17 Collin Muriuki returned an impressive 35 points to clinch the Junior title and handicap 32 Millicent Palo took the Best effort award with 18 points.
Sotet Captain Willy Sang lauded the success of the 2026 edition, noting that the two-day format was forced by growth and is now here to stay and thanked all including the sponsors for the success of the tournament.
“From the first edition with just a handful of us to 205 players in Mombasa, this journey has been incredible. We had to split the field into two days to accommodate everyone and that shows the hunger for golf that celebrates culture. My sincere appreciation to Mombasa Golf Club, our Captain and Lady Captain at MGC, our sponsors, and every golfer. Sotet is about more than golf, it is about celebrating the rich culture of the Kalenjin, our values of respect, hard work and togetherness, while welcoming all Kenyans. Next year will be even bigger,” said Sang.
Sang added that the event will continue to promote friendship, cultural appreciation and social cohesion among participants from diverse backgrounds.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) PLC Chief Executive Officer Capt. William Ruto, who was the chief guest in the evening joined the golfers during the prize giving dinner at the Club house garden for the event that also served as a platform for networking, cultural exchange and regional integration.
Ruto said KPA was pursuing a more collaborative approach to strengthen relationships with stakeholders and facilitate trade across the region.
“The golf tournament is a key sporting event which provides a strategic platform for dialogue and partnership,” he said.
Capt. Ruto emphasized that fostering stronger relationships among public and private sector players was critical to enhancing trade and economic cooperation.
The event also provided a boost to sports tourism and local businesses, drawing participants and visitors to the Coast at a time when the region is positioning itself as a destination for both leisure and business travel.
For KPA, the tournament reflects the growing role of sports as a vehicle for building connections beyond traditional business engagements.
The closing ceremony was a blend of golf prize-giving and cultural showcase, with winners in various categories feted with trophies and sponsor hampers.
The sight of the giant Sotet gourd came to life at the dinner tables, where mursik, traditional songs and Coastal taarab fused into a memorable night.
For Mombasa Golf Club, hosting the Sotet Tournament cemented its place as the Coast’s home of inclusive, culturally-rich golf tourism.
With such large numbers of players booking hotels, flights and playing at the historic course, the economic ripple to Mombasa was clear.
As players packed their clubs for the journey back, one message rang from the fairways, ‘Sotet has matured from a chama of friends into a national movement that uses golf to keep culture alive and as the 4th Edition is done, the 5th awaits.’
ENDS.
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